This Classical Life

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

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Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

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Jess Gillam talks to a guest about their classical lfe

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

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From Nick's love of the 'Daniel Craig of the choral classics' Bach's Christmas Oratorio, to Pat's championing of the backing group in an Ella Fitzgerald Christmas tune. Jess, of course, manages to find a David Bowie track even at Christmas and Johnny shares a Beach Boys hit that encapsulates the Christmases of touring musicians.

Playlist:

ELLA FITZGERALD: Santa Claus is Coming to Town

MORTEN LAURIDSEN: O Magnum mysterium [Chamber Choir of Europe/ Nicol Matt]

YAZOO: Only You

PROKOFIEV: Lietenant Kij退 Suite, op.60 - Troika [Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Claudio Abbado]

WIZZARD: I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday

TRAD IRISH: The Wexford Carol [Susannah Vango (sop) Ex Cathedra/Jeffrey Skidmore]

DAVID BOWIE/BING CROSBY Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy

JS BACH: 'Herr, wenn die stolzen feinde schnauben' from Christmas Oratorio [Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, RIAS Kammerchor/Ren退 Jacobs]

THE BEACH BOYS: God Only Knows

Jess Gillam invites the Kings Singers for the This Classical Life Christmas Party.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

It's This Classical Christmas! Jess Gillam swaps festive tracks with by the conductor, composer, arranger and trumpeter Guy Barker.

Guy's varied career has seen him working across the worlds of jazz, pop, classical, film and theatre, with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Sting to Quincy Jones. His Big Band Christmas concerts raise the roof of the Royal Albert Hall every December, and since 2008 he has been the Musical Director and arranger for the annual Jazz Voice concert at the Barbican.

Guy has brought along music including Bill Evans' take on a festive classic, a Christmas Cantata from Arthur Honegger and a jazz organ version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Jess's choices include a Sleigh Ride from Leroy Anderson, a lullaby from Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov and Ella Fitzgerald revealing The Secret of Christmas.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3'.

Jess Gillam and conductor, composer and trumpeter Guy Barker share festive favourites.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and conductor, composer and trumpeter Guy Barker share their favourite festive music, including pieces by Valentin Silvestrov, Bill Evans, Ella Fitzgerald and Ravel.

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Jess Gillam shares favourite music with violinist Hans Christian Aavik.

The dynamic young Estonian violinist Hans Christian Aavik, a first prize winner at the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition, joins Jess Gillam to play some of his favourite music, including Schubert and Enescu, as well as Dirty Loops and Snarky Puppy. Jess brings along some of her own favourites, including Holst, and The Flirtations.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and Estonian violinist Hans Christian Aavik share some of their favourite music, including Enescu, Holst, Snarky Puppy and The Flirtations.

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Edinburgh-born Aaron trained at the Royal Academy of Music, and cites Louis Armstrong as his biggest musical influence. An ex-principal of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, he now combines playing in some of the UK's top orchestras with a career as a chamber and solo player, which has included a solo recital debut at this year's Lucerne Festival.

Playlist:

Mahler - Symphony No.5, 1st movement (Vienna Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez)

Poulenc - Les chemins de l'amour (Sabine Devieilhe and Alexandre Tharaud)

Jacob Collier ft. Daniel Caesar - Time Alone With You

Goat Rodeo Sessions (Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile) - Quarter Chicken Dark

Prokofiev - Toccata Op.11 (Freddy Kempf)

Beyonc退 - Love On Top

Errollyn Wallen - Concerto Grosso, 1st movement (Chineke!)

Leif Vollebekk - Elegy

Jess Gillam meets the trumpeter Aaron Akugbo to share the music they love the most.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Cellist Abel Selaocoe offers Jess music by Biber, Britten and the Youngblood Brass Band.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Adam share music by Shostakovich, Debussy and 16th century music for recorder.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with composer Afrodeutsche.

The British born Ghanaian/Russian/German artist, composer, producer, and DJ Afrodeutsche is known for her genre-spanning music, and radio shows on BBC 6Music and Radio 3 Unwind. In this programme she brings along some favourite tracks to play to Jess, who has some selections of her own. Choices today include Chopin and Piazzolla as featured in the movies, Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, Kate Bush exploring different genres, Nigel Kennedy playing Vivaldi, and the jazz/classical/rock melting pot of American multi-instrumentalist David Sancious.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with composer Afrodeutsche, including tracks by Chopin, Piazzolla, Arvo Pärt and David Sancious.

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Jess Gillam is joined by mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina to swap some of the tracks they love and chat all things music. With music from Handel to Earth Wind & Fire.

Playlist:

Shostakovich - Festive overture Op.96

Earth Wind & Fire - Boogie Wonderland

Jeff Buckley - Lilac Wine

Handel - Tolomeo, re d'Egitto; Act 3 sc 6; Stille amare, gia vi sento (Arioso) - Philippe Jaroussky (counter tenor), Artaserse

Georgy Vasilevich Sviridov - The Snowstorm; IX. Winter Road

Leonard Bernstein - On the town; Lucky to be me - Jessye Norman (soprano) + John Williams (piano)

Philip Glass - Violin Concerto; III - Gidon Kremer (violin), Wiener Philharmoniker, Christoph Von Dohnányi

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

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Alessandro Fisher is a former member of the BBC New Generation Artist scheme, and a Kathleen Ferrier award winner: a versatile performer equally at home in baroque and romantic opera, or song. His choices today include barbershop quartet, brass band music, and the voice of Fritz Wunderlich. Jess has chosen music by Coleman Hawkins and multi-BRIT Award winner Raye.

Playlist:

Schubert: An die Musik, D 547 - Fritz Wunderlich (tenor), Hubert Gisen (piano)

Coleman Hawkins Quartet: Love Song from ‘Apache

Fucik: Florentiner March - Grimethorpe Colliery Band

Schubert: Wandrer's Nachtlied, D 768 - Kian Soltani (cello), Aaron Pilsan (piano)

Crossroads Barbershop Quartet: That Lucky Old Sun (just rolls around heaven all day)

Paul Mealor: Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal - Tenebrae, Nigel Short (conductor)

Alain Romans: Quel temps fait-il à Paris (M Hulot's Holiday)

Raye: Worth It

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and tenor Alessandro Fisher share the music they love, including Schubert, brass bands and Coleman Hawkins.

Tracks we listened to today...

The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble, Michael Riesman

Antonio Vivaldi - Nisi Dominus (mvt 1 nisi dominus)

Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Ensemble Matheus, Jean-Christophe Spinosi

Goldfrapp - Lovely Head

Franz Schubert - Fantasy in C major D.760 (Wandererfantasie) for piano

Yevgeny Kissin (piano)

Ravel - Melodies Hebraiques, No1 Kaddisch

Raphael Wallfisch (cello) Raphael Wallfisch (conductor) BBC NOW

Mazzy Star - Fade into you

Duke Ellington - Nutcracker Suite; Overture

Francis Poulenc - Concerto for piano and orchestra; 1st movement; Allegretto

Alexandre Tharaud (piano) London Philharmonic Orchestra, Yannick N退zet-S退guin

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

John Adams - City Noir - I. The City and its Double (St Louis Symphony, David Robertson)

Leroy Anderson - The Waltzing Cat

Britten - Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings - Sonnet (Peter Pears, Barry Tuckwell, LSO, Benjamin Britten)

De Falla - Siete Canciones; I. El pano moruno (Arr. Efra퀀n Oscher) (Avi Avital)

Sondheim - Losing My Mind (from Follies) (Imelda Staunton)

David Maslanka - A Child's Garden of Dreams; I.There is a desert on the moon (Dallas Wind Symphony)

Voctave - Impossible Dream

Tom Waits - Take it With Me

Jess Gillam and composer Alex Woolf share some of the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and pianist Alexandra Dariescu share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

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Today we listened to...

Handel - Guilio Cesare: Act 3; Da Tempeste (Amanda Forsythe, Apollo's Fire, Jeanette Sorrell)

Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now

Elena Kats-Chernin - Memorial Rag (Gondwana Voices, Lyn Williams)

Janacek - Glagolitic Mass: VIII. Intrada (CBSO, Simon Rattle)

Andrew Bird - Pulaski at Night

Philip Glass - Glassworks: I. Opening (Philip Glass Ensemble, Michael Riesman)

Herbert Stothart and Harry Ruby, lyrics by Bert Kalmar - I wanna be loved by you (Marilyn Monroe, Matty Malneck and His Orchestra)

Tchaikovsky - Piano Concert No. 1: 1st mvt Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito (Martha Argerich, Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Goat Rodeo - Hill Justice

Shostakovich: String Quartet No.8 in C Minor, Op.110: II. Allegro Molto (Borodin Quartet)

Celeste - Strange

Malcolm Arnold: Guitar Concerto, Op.67: II. Lento (Julian Bream & Melos Ensemble)

Glazunov - Chant du Menestrel (Rostropovich, Boston SO, Seiji Ozawa)

The Impossible Gentlemen - Clockmaker

Korngold - King's Row

Eric Whitacre - Sleep

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Here's the music we played today...

Bedrich Smetana - Ma vlast, Vltava [Moldau]

Kraja- Polska Till Rut

Francis Poulenc - Sonata for Oboe FP, 185; 1. Allegro

John Luther Adams - Become Ocean

Aretha Franklin - I Say a Little Prayer

Hildegard Von Bingen - Digiti Viriditas Dei

Steve Reich - Music for 18 musicians

John Tavener - The Protecting Veil

Jess and Alexia swap music including Hildegard Von Bingen and Smetana.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps musical choices with the pianist, composer and broadcaster Alexis Ffrench.

Alexis shares his first musical memories with Jess including a mystical voice calling him to the piano and his thoughts on blending 'classical' with other genres. The playlist includes music by Messiaen, CPE Bach and Ravel as well as Jon Hopkins and A Tribe Called Quest. Jess and Alexis compare notes on Barbara Strozzi and their shared love of Yo-Yo Ma.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and pianist-composer Alexis Ffrench share tracks they love ranging from Messiaen, to Jon Hopkins, Barbara Strozzi and A Tribe Called Quest.

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Jess Gillam shares favourite music with vocalist, violinist and pianist Alice Zawadzki.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

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Playlist:

BACH: Brandenburg Concerto no.4 - 1st mvt (English Concert, Trevor Pinnock)

DAVID BOWIE: Dollar Days (from Blackstar)

MILES DAVIS: If I Were a Bell (Miles Davis Quintet)

RACHMANINOV: Symphonic Dances, op. 45 - No.1 {Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nezet-Seguin)

PIAZZOLLA: Histoire du Tango: Night Club 1960 (Astoria)

QUEEN: Love of my Life (from A Night at the Opera)

NINA SIMONE: Stars (Live at the Montreux Jazz festival)

STRAVINSKY: The Firebird - finale (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle)

Jess Gillam is joined by trumpeter Alison Balsom, live from the Hay Festival.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Shostakovich - Jazz Suite No 2 - Dance 2 [Russian State Symphony Orchestra, Dmitry Yablonsky]

Bj怀rk- Army of Me

Mendelssohn - Cello Sonata No.2 in D Major, Op. 58: I. Allegro assai vivace [Steven Isserlis - cello, Melvyn Tan - piano]

Joesef - Comedown

Josef Suk - Serenade for Strings in E-flat major, Op. 6: IV. Allegro [Vienna Philharmonic, Clemens Krauss]

Ella Fitzgerald - Summertime

Icelandic Folk Song - Sleep for Mama (Vikingur Olafsson - piano)

Fredrik Lindborg - Danny's Dream

Jess Gillam and cellist Amalie Stalheim chat about the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, she is joined by another young musician to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Amy share music from Bernstein to Vivaldi, Miles Davis and Caroline Shaw.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess's guest this week is the cellist Anastasia Kobekina

Anastasia is known for her musicality, infectious personality and musical imagination. She says her ultimate goal is getting beyond cello technique, beyond the wood, and instead attempting to reach for that feeling when she sings in her most expressive and personal moments. She started playing cello at the age of 4 and has been a prize-winner at the Tchaikovsky Competition and the Enescu Competition and was a Radio 3 New Generation Artist.

Jess and Anastasia talk about her life in music, why she wants her cello to be more than just an instrument and swap favourite tracks to listen to including music by Lili Boulanger, Elgar's cello masterpiece and a film score by Thom Yorke, a perfect Bjork cover and Tchaikovsky from Anastasia's childhood

Jess swaps favourite music with cellist Anastasia Kobekina.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess swaps favourite music with cellist Anastasia Kobekina, including music by Boulanger, Elgar and Thom Yorke, a perfect Bjork cover and Tchaikovsky from Anastasia's childhood.

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Jess's guest this week is the cellist Anastasia Kobekina

Anastasia is known for her musicality, infectious personality and musical imagination. She says her ultimate goal is getting beyond cello technique, beyond the wood, and instead attempting to reach for that feeling when she sings in her most expressive and personal moments. She started playing cello at the age of 4 and has been a prize-winner at the Tchaikovsky Competition and the Enescu Competition and was a Radio 3 New Generation Artist.

Jess and Anastasia talk about her life in music, why she wants her cello to be more than just an instrument and swap favourite tracks to listen to including music by Lili Boulanger, Elgar's cello masterpiece and a film score by Thom Yorke, a perfect Bjork cover and Tchaikovsky from Anastasia's childhood.

Jess swaps favourite music with cellist Anastasia Kobekina.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess swaps favourite music with cellist Anastasia Kobekina, including music by Boulanger, Elgar and Thom Yorke, a perfect Bjork cover and Tchaikovsky from Anastasia's childhood.

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Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess shares favourite music with soprano Angel Blue

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

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Jess shares favourite music with soprano Angel Blue.

Angel is one of the world's biggest opera stars, she is in demand the world over for her gorgeous voice and charismatic performances. She's won two Grammy's and of course starred in the 2024 Last Night of the Proms here on Radio 3. She chats to Jess about her life in music, her singing hero Renée Fleming and why Barry White's music is the language of love... Plus Jess and Angel share more music by Vivaldi, Sharon Jones, Bizet, Barber and more!

To listen using most smart speakers, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play This Classical Life ?

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess is joined by soprano Angel Blue to swap the music they love the most, from Barry White at his smoothest to Verdi at his most passionate, plus an American classic by Barber.

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Anna and Jess load up the This Classical Life jukebox with the music they love, including an Incan-influenced track from Simon & Garfunkel, music for Italian clowns from Leoncavallo, and a song of resilience and hope from American roots musician Rhiannon Giddens.

Plus Jess plays some of the best music to take you into Saturday evening.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam is joined by composer Anna Clyne to share some of their favourite tracks, including music from Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Stravinsky, and Simon & Garfunkel.

Jess's guest this week is the GRAMMY-nominated composer Anna Clyne, who the New York Times has described as a 'composer of uncommon gifts and unusual methods'. Anna's work has been performed at The Barbican, Carnegie Hall, and the Last Night of The Proms, and she has collaborated with artists such as Pekka Kuusisto and Yo-Yo Ma, as well as San Francisco Ballet and Royal Ballet. She and Jess discuss physicality in music, as well as blending the acoustic with the electronic.

Jess's guest this week is the Grammy-nominated composer Anna Clyne, who the New York Times has described as a 'composer of uncommon gifts and unusual methods'. Anna's work has been performed at The Barbican, Carnegie Hall, and the Last Night of The Proms, and she has collaborated with artists such as Pekka Kuusisto and Yo-Yo Ma, as well as San Francisco Ballet and Royal Ballet. Her new piece 'The Gorgeous Nothings', which sets poetry by Emily Dickinson, will be premiered by BBC Philharmonic and The Swingles at Prom 15 on 30th July 2024. She and Jess discuss physicality in music, as well as the power of simplicity.

Anna and Jess load up the This Classical Life jukebox with the music they love, including an Incan-influenced track from Simon & Garfunkel, music for Italian clowns from Leoncavallo, and a song of resilience and hope from American roots musician Rhiannon Giddens.

Plus Jess plays some of the best music to take you into Saturday evening.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff, too.

Jess Gillam is joined by composer Anna Clyne to share some of their favourite tracks, including music from Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Stravinsky and Simon & Garfunkel.

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Playlist:

Ella Fitzgerald - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Vivaldi - Violin Concerto in D major, RV211, 3rd movement (Nicola Benedetti, Benedetti Baroque Orchestra)

Supertramp - The Logical Song

Bonobo / O'Flynn - Otomo (from album Fragments)

Silvestrov - Christmas Lullabies, No.2: Quiet Night (Latvian Radio Choir)

Glenn Miller - Moonlight Serenade (Barbara Hannigan, LUDWIG)

Saint-Saens - Danse macabre, Op. 40 (arr. Lemare) (Olivier Latry, organ of Paris Philharmonie)

Otis Reading - Try a Little Tenderness

Anna Lapwood joins Jess for a New Year's Eve listening party.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist

Bjork: Stonemilker

Meredith Monk: Ellis Island

FKA Twigs: cellophane

Hildur Guðnadóttir: Folk faer andlit

Carmel Smickersgill: Thinking

Louise Farrenc: Nonet, op.38 - 3rd mvt (Consortium Classicum)

Emily Hall: Eternity (Olivia Chaney)

The Shirelles: Will you Still Love me Tomorrow

Jess Gillam and composer Anna Meredith share some favourite tracks by female artists.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess sits down with composer Anna Meredith to share some of their favourite tracks by female artists - from Bjork to Hildur Guðnadóttir via FKA Twigs and the Shirelles.

Jess Gillam swaps musical choices with the violinist, composer and presenter of BBC Radio 4's Add to Playlist, Anna Phoebe. Anna chooses tracks by Johann Sebastian Bach, Arooj Aftab, Verdi and fusion band, Shakti. Jess brings along music by Mark Giuliana, Gustav Holst and Dmitri Shostakovich.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3'.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps musical choices with the violinist and presenter of Radio 4's Add to Playlist, Anna Phoebe.

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Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Music we listened to today...

Sibelius - Finlandia (CBSO, Sakari Oramo)

Morten Lauridsen - O Magnum Mysterium (ORA Singers, Suzi Digby)

Karl Jenkins - Over The Stone: Double Harp Concerto (Catrin Finch)

Carole King - You've Got a Friend

Einojuhani Rautavaara - Cantus Arcticus Op.61; 3rd mvt; Swans migrating (Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Osmo Vanska)

Afro Celt Sound System - Whirl-y-Reel #2

Ravel - Ma mere l'oye, cinq pieces enfantines V. Le Jardin feerique (Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Yannick Nezet-Seguin)

Jess Gillam chats with harpist Anne Denholm about the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Anne Sofie is one of classical music's most celebrated singers with a huge back catalogue of recordings, and she's also known for her huge versatility and musical curiosity working with artists from conductors Claudio Abbado and Giuseppe Sinopoli to Elvis Costello, Brad Mehldau and Rufus Wainwright.

Today though she's listening to other people's recordings, as she and Jess sat down together to listen to a Janacek fanfare and a headphone blasting piece of Verdi. Jess picks a Nina Simone track that left them both speechless, while Anne Sofie brought along a ravishing piece by Rameau and (quite literally) turned up the volume on a barnstorming Beyonc退 track.

Playlist:

JANACEK: Sinfonietta, 1st mvt 'Sokol Fanfare' [Vienna Philharmonic, Charles Mackerras (conductor)]

JӀHANN JӀHANNSSON: Good Night, Day [Hildur Gu

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the trance DJ, producer, and pianist Armin van Buuren, who is one of the leading figures in the electronic dance music scene, but who is swapping his DJ decks for piano keys with his new acoustic album 'Piano'. He tells Jess how his love of classical music inspires his work, choosing pieces by Allegri, Simeon ten Holt, The Orb and Matt Darey, whilst Jess's picks include Bach, Britten and Martin Hayes.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the trance DJ and pianist Armin van Buuren.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the trance DJ, producer, and pianist Armin van Buuren, including music by Bach, Britten, Simeon ten Holt and The Orb.

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Arsha and Jess load up the This Classical Life jukebox with the music they love, including a demo by Amy Winehouse, a fiendishly complex piano sonata from Nikolai Medtner, Beethoven harnessing the power of silence, and Jeff Buckley inspired by mystic Sufism.

Plus Jess plays some of the best music to take you into Saturday evening.

Jess Gillam talks to and swaps favourite music with pianist and composer Arsha Kaviani.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess is joined by pianist and composer Arsha Kaviani to swap some of the music they love the most, including Brahms, Beethoven and Jeff Buckley.

Playlist:

Errollyn Wallen - Concerto Grosso: 1st mvt (Tai Murray, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Chi-Chi Nwanoku, Chineke!, Anthony Parnther)

Caroline Shaw - And the Swallow (The Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge, Anna Lapwood)

The Abyssinians - Declaration of Rights

Samuel Barber - Adagio for strings (New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein)

Lucio Berio - Sinfonia: iii. In ruhig fliessender Bewegung (London Voices, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Peter Eotvos)

Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony No. 10: 2nd mvt (Liverpool Philharmonic, Vasily Petrenko)

Jill Scott - Slowly, Surely

Jess Gillam talks to singer and cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson about the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, she is joined by another young musician to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Belle share music by Korngold and Sibelius, John Cage and Aphex Twin.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Janacek - Sinfonietta, first movement (Simon Rattle, Philharmonia Orchestra)

Pink Floyd - The Great gig in the Sky

Beethoven - Violin Concerto, 2nd movement (Isabelle Faust (violin) Prague Philharmonia)

Miles Davis - Generique

Haydn - Symphony no. 31 in D Major, first movement (Academy of Ancient Music)

Jóhann Jóhannsson - Good Morning Midnight (Air Lyndhurst String Orchestra, Anthony Weeden, Jóhann Jóhannsson)

Elton John – Rocket Man

Elgar – Sea Pictures, Op. 37 IV. Where Corals Lie (Janet Baker)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and horn player Ben Goldscheider share the music they love. With music including Janacek, Haydn, Miles Davis, Pink Floyd and Elton John.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Today we played -

Copland – Appalachian Spring: Allegro (Leonard Bernstein, New York Phil)

Erroll Garner - Misty (Johnny Mathis)

Pulp – Common People

Verdi – Don Carlos: O Carlo, ascolta from Act IV Scene 2 (Dmitri Hvorostovsky, BBC Welsh SO, Richard Armstrong, recorded at 1989 Cardiff Singer of the World final)

Interpol – Untitled (from Turn on the Bright Lights)

John Rutter – What sweeter music (Choir of King's College Cambridge Stephen Cleobury, Robert Quinney (organ)

Lani Alo – Alo i ou faiva (Lani Alo and Livingston Efu)

Poulenc – Double Piano Concerto in D Minor: III. Finale (Mischa Cheung and Yulia Miloslavaskaya (pianos), Giraud Ensemble Chamber Orchestra, Sergey Simakov)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

RAVI SHANKAR/PHILIP GLASS: Prashanti

TOMAS LUIS de VICTORIA: O Magnum Mysterium [Voces8]

STRAVINSKY - Petrushka - Tableau 1 Fete Populaire de la semaine grasse [Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez (cond)]

ROGER WEBB: Moonbird (Heaven and Hell)

MEREDITH MONK: Atlas Part 3 - Invisible Light: Earth Seen from Above

HOLST: The Planets - Mars [London Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski (cond)]

BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND: La Vita

COSMO SHELDRAKE: Cuckoo Song

Jess Gillam and singer and composer Bishi swap their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

HAYDN - String Quartet, op.33 no 2 ‘The Joke' 1st mvt Allegro Moderato [London Haydn Players]

ETTA JAMES - At Last

RACHMANINOV - Symphony no 2 - 3rd mvt ‘Adagio' [London Symphony Orchestra/Simon Rattle (cond)]

JOSEPH ACHRON - Hebrew Melody, op.33 [Josef Hassid (violin), Gerald Moore (piano)]

MONTEVERDI, arr. Pluhar - Zefiro Torna, SV251 [Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor), Nuria Rial (soprano), l'Arpeggiata/Christina Pluhar (director)]

THE MELODIANS: Rivers of Babylon

TRAD: Ku-Isa Tama Laug [David Darling (cello), The Wulu Bunun]

BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D, op.61 - 3rd mvt [Itzhak Perlman (violin), Berlin Philharmonic/Daniel Barenboim (conductor)]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

(revised repeat)

Jess Gillam and violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason share music they love, including a classic Beethoven recording by violinist Itzhak Perlman and music by Etta James and Rachmaninov.

Playlist:

Beethoven - Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op.67; I. Allegro con brio (London Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati)

Sophie Hutchings - Elysian Days

Alegros Gramma - Mousaka Bari Bari (Traditional Gnawa)

Haydn - Concerto no. 1 in C major H.7b.1; III. Allegro molto (Sol Gabetta (cello), Kammerorchester Basel, Sergio Ciomei)

Portishead - Roads

Ravel - Jeux d'eau, M.30 (Martha Argerich - piano)

Chick Corea - Spain

Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No. 2 In C minor Op.18; II. Adagio sostenuto (Vladimir Ashkenazy - piano), London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Puccini - Overture from Madame Butterfly [Orchestra Dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Alberto Erede]

De Visee - Sarabande from Pieces for lute, Suite No.7 [Thomas Dunford, Jean Rondeau]

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Lera Auerbach - T'filah (Prayer) for solo violin [Vadim Glutzman]

Schubert - String Quartet No.15 in G, 1st movement [Hagen Quartet]

John Ireland - Fantasy Sonata [Michael Collins, Michael McHale]

Alex Turner - Piledriver waltz

Beethoven - Symphony No.6 in F major 'Pastoral', final movement [Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti]

Jess Gillam and cellist Bruno Philippe share some of their favourite music

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess's guest this week is composer and guitarist Bryce Dessner. Bryce straddles numerous musical worlds, whether as a guitarist and songwriter for The National, as part of a piano quartet with the Labeque sisters, as a film composer or a composer of concert works who studied with Steve Reich and collaborates with soloists from Alice Sara Ott to Pekka Kuusisto. Bryce and Jess talk about how this spirit of collaboration is key for both of them when making music.

Plus they settle in for a listening party of the music they love, including a vibrant overture by Thomas Ades, Floating Points and Pharoah Saunders joining forces, Stravinsky's glittering Firebird, Vikingur Olafsson in Bach and a haunting This Mortal Coil cover of Song of the Siren

Plus Jess plays some of the best music to take you into Saturday evening.

Jess is joined by composer and guitarist Bryce Dessner to swap favourite music

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess and composer/guitarist Bryce Dessner swap favourite music, including Stravinsky's glittering Firebird, Vikingur Olafsson in Bach and a haunting cover of Song of the Siren

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach - Symphony in E-flat Major Wq. 179 - 1. Prestissimo [Akademie für Alte Ausik Berlin]

Broadcast - Colour Me In

Lili Boulanger - D'Un Jardin Clair [ɀmile Naoumoff - piano]

Charles Ives - 3 Places in New England - The Housatonic at Stockbridge [Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon]

Harry Nilsson - Everybody's Talkin

Olivier Messiaen - O Sacrum Comvivium [Choir of New College, Oxford, Edward Higginbottom]

Matt Maltese - As the World Caves In

Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 2 in C Minor `Resurrection`; V. Mit Aufschung - [Sir Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic, Kate Royal, Magdalena Kozena]

Jess Gillam and composer C Duncan share the tracks they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Philip Glass - Funeral of Amenhotep (from Akhnaten) [Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus, Karen Kamensek, Zachary James]

Bach - Sonata for Violin and Keyboard No.3 in E Major, BWV 1016; 3rd movement [Renaud Capu瀀on (violin), David Fray (piano)]

Quincy Jones - Happy Feet (from the movie Walk, Don't Run)

Traditional - The Butcher's Boy [Kronos Quartet, Natalie Merchant]

Gabriela Lena Frank - Leyendas, `An Andean Walkabout` - mvt. 2 Tarqueada [Chiara Quartet]

Fanny Mendelssohn - Das Jahr - June [Liana Serbescu (piano)]

Earth Wind and Fire - Can't Let Go

Sibelius - Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43; 2nd Movement [New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Clara Schumann: 3 Romances Op. 22 No. 3 [Elena Urioste - violin, Isata Kanneh-Mason - piano]

Mark Guiliana - a path to bliss

Scott Joplin - Bethena [Randy Kerber - piano]

Sarah Vaughan - Tenderly

Josquin des Prez - Mille regretz [Hilliard Ensemble]

Stanley Myers - Saxophone Concerto [John Harle, Argo Symphony Orchestra, James Judd]

Kae Tempest - People's Faces

Schubert - Piano Sonata in F-sharp minor, D.571 (Fragment) [Andras Schiff - piano]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Heiner Goebbels - Suite for Sampler and Orchestra: Courante (Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, Peter Rundel)

Louise Farrenc - Nonet in E flat major Op.38 for chamber ensemble: 3rd mvt; Scherzo vivace (Consortium Classicum)

Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major, Op. 55; IV. Larghetto (Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, BBC Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda)

Dinah Washington - This Bitter Earth

Empirical - The Simple Light Shines The Brightest

Anna Thorvaldsdottir - In the Light of Air; III. Existence (International Contemporary Ensemble)

Toru Takemitsu - Litany: II. Lento misterioso (Kotaro Fukuma, piano)

Michael Nyman - Prosperos Magic (from Prosperos Books)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Cécile is a 3 time Grammy Award-winning jazz singer and her music shows off her passion for storytelling and finding the connections between vaudeville, blues, jazz, baroque and folkloric music. She spoke to Jess ahead of her show at London Jazz Festival 2023 and picked some of her favourite voices from Maria Callas singing Puccini to flamenco star Camarón de la Isla and an air de cour by Gabriel Bataille.

Jess brought along a string quartet by Caroline Shaw, a Hollywood inflected Concerto by Korngold and the most beautiful of songs by Aretha Franklin

PLAYLIST:

GABRIEL BATAILLE: Sortés soupirs témoins de mon mártire [Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien, Annie Dufresne (soprano)]

CAROLINE SHAW: Plan & Elevation – v. The Beech Tree [Attacca Quartet]

WANDA JACKSON: Funnel of Love

KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto, op.35 – 1st mvt [James Ehnes (violin), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Bramwell Tovey (cond)]

ARETHA FRANKLIN: Ain't No Way

PUCCINI: La bohème, Act 4 “Sono andati ? [Maria Callas (soprano), Giuseppe di Stefano (tenor), La Scala Milan Chorus & Orchestra, Antonino Votto (cond)]

POULENC: Stabat Mater – i. Stabat Mater dolorosa [Cappella Amsterdam, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Estonian National SO, Daniel Reuss (cond)]

CAMARON DE LA ISLA: Yo vivo enamorao (Tangos) [Camaron De La Isla (singer), Paco De Lucía (guitar)]

Jess Gillam meets jazz singer Cecile McLorin Salvant to swap their favourite music

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam meets jazz singer Cécile McLorin Salvant to swap favourite music, including Aretha Franklin, Caroline Shaw, Maria Callas singing Puccini and Cameron De La Isla

Jess Gillam meets the jazz singer C退cile McLorin Salvant to swap some of their favourite music.

C退cile is a three-time Grammy Award-winning jazz singer and her music shows off her passion for storytelling and finding the connections between vaudeville, blues, jazz, baroque and folkloric music. She spoke to Jess ahead of her show at London Jazz Festival 2023 and picked some of her favourite voices from Maria Callas singing Puccini to flamenco star Cameron De La Isla and an air de cour by Gabriel Bataille.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Edvard Grieg - Holberg suite Op.40 vers. for string orchestra: Praeludium (Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi)

Pierne - Impromptu Caprice (Marisa Robles - harp)

Polar Bear - Peepers

Wagner - Siegfried's Funeral March (Budapest Festival Orchestra, Ivan Fischer)

Terry Riley - A Rainbow in Curved Air

Dorothy Ashby - Soul Vibrations from Afro-Harping

Allegri - Miserere (Tallis Scholars)

John Williams - Jurassic Park theme

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Tracks we played today...

Gabriel Prokofiev - Saxophone Concerto: IV. Allegro Mechanico

Nadia Boulanger - 3 Pieces for Cello and Piano, no.1: Modere

Stravinsky - The Firebird Suite

John Luther Adams - The Wind in High Places: II. Maclaren Summit

Ivy Benson - Lover

Anders Hillborg - Sirens

Caoimh퀀n Ӏ Raghallaigh - What, What, What

Prokofiev - Violin Concerto No.1, 3rd movement

Jess Gillam is joined by Charlotte Harding to swap tracks and share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Khachaturian - Masquerade - Ballet Suite: 1. Waltz [London Symphony Orchestra, Stanley Black]

Mozart - Cos쀀 fan tutte: 'Soave sia il vento' [V退ronique Gens (soloist), Pietro Spagnoli (soloist), Bernarda Fink (soloist), Concerto K怀ln, Ren退 Jacobs]

Isobel Waller-Bridge - Illuminations

Billie Holiday - Blue Moon

Modest Mussorgsky - A Night On The Bare Mountain [Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado]

Rameau - Les Indes Galantes Ouverture [Jordi Savall, Le Concert Des Nations]

The Supremes - You Keep Me Hangin' On

Tchaikovsky - Sleeping Beauty, Op.66: No. 29c Adagio [The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Mark Ermler]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and violinist Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux swap their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Meredith Monk - The Games: Spaceship (Arr. M Gordon for Chamber Ensemble) [Bang On A Can All-Stars]

Telemann - Sonata TWV 41:f1 in F minor; I. Triste [Frans Bruggen (recorder), Anner Bylsma (cello) Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord)]

Lee Scratch Perry - Blackboard Jungle Dub

Miklos Rozsa - Spellbound [LSO, John Williams]

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Storm (Excerpt)

Eydis Evensen - Brotin

Alfred Schnittke - Requiem aeternam [Eric Ericsons Kammark怀r, Radiok怀ren, Conductor - T倀nu Kaljuste]

Eric Whitacre - October [Youngstown State University Symphonic Wind Band, Stephen Gage]

Jess Gillam chats to composer Claire M Singer about the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too. This week, Jess meets the pianist Clare Hammond who brings music varying from Johann Sebastian Bach to Mari Boine to Lauryn Hill. There is also Dvorak, Coleman Hawkins and David Bowie. Jess and Clare share early experiences of learning to play their instruments, the differences in recording classical and pop and how to share new repertoire with audiences.

And Jess looks forward to the First Night of the Proms with music by Arvo Pärt.

Jess Gillam shares a listening playlist with the pianist Clare Hammond including music by JS Bach, David Bowie, Dora Pejacevic and Lauryn Hill.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess's guest this week is bassist and member of Radiohead, Colin Greenwood. Colin has a not-so-secret love of classical music and comes into the studio armed with arias by Handel, choral music by Eric Whitacre, a Nina Simone classic and more. Fresh from releasing a new book of candid photography of Radiohead in the studio and making music, Colin chats to Jess about life in one of the most influential bands in the world and they share their mutual love of a killer bassline.

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess is joined by bassist Colin Greenwood to talk about the music they love the most, including tracks by Handel and Ellington, heavenly Eric Whitacre choral music and a Nina Simone classic.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam swaps music choices with composer Conor Mitchell.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Rodrigo arr. Gil Evans - Concierto de Aranjuez [Miles Davis]

JS Bach arr. Siloti - Prelude (BWV.855a), transc. for piano in B minor (orig. in E minor, '48' no.10) [Vikingur Olafsson]

Mariah - Shinzo No Tobira

Sibelius - Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82 - III Allegro molto [Sakari Oramo, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra]

Britten - Friday afternoons Op.7 for children's voices and piano: Cuckoo! [Choir of Downside School, Purley, Viola Tunnard]

Bremer/McCoy - Drommer

Tallis - Spem in alium for 40 voices [Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips]

Courtney Pine - Haiti

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

R. Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic)

Janacek - String Quartet No. 2 'Intimate Letters' (Emersen String Quartet)

David Bowie - Lazarus

Arvo Part - Fratres (Ursula Schoch, Marcel Worms)

Marcello - Oboe Concerto in D Minor (Heinz Holliger, I Musici)

Hiatus Kaiyote - Nakamarra

Scriabin - Piano Sonata No.5 in F Sharp Major (Vladimir Ashkenazy)

Barber - Sure On This Shining Night (Allan Clayton with Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon)

Jess Gillam and violinist Courtenay Cleary share some of their favourite tracks.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Dalia is a musical force to be reckoned with, her charisma on the podium has established her as a conductor of exceptional versatility and popularity. She is Chief Conductor of Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director of the International Sibelius Festival and Principal Guest Conductor of BBC Symphony Orchestra (who she's conducting at this year's BBC Proms).

She's also known for her fearless musical curiosity - her 'Dalia's Mixtape' project takes some of the freshest sounds in contemporary music to imagine what a symphony orchestra might sound like in the future.

Dalia and Jess talk about her life and work and swap favourite music, from music by Walton and Bach, to tracks by Sigur Ros and Cosmo Sheldrake, Dalia's favourite Sibelius symphony and her organ flavoured guilty pleasure...

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the conductor Dalia Stasevska.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess swaps favourite music with the conductor Dalia Stasevska, including music by Walton and Bach, Dalia's favourite Sibelius symphony and her organ-based guilty pleasure.

Track we played today...

Thomas Ades - In Seven Days: iv. Stars - Sun - Moon

Nicolas Hodges (piano) London Sinfonietta, Thomas Ades

Toshio Hosokawa - Japanese folksongs: no.2; Itsuki no komori uta (Lullaby of Itsuki)

Emmanuel Pahud (flute) Christian Rivet (guitar)

Steve Reich - Variations for Vibes, Pianos and Strings: I. Fast

London Sinfonietta, Alan Pierson

Anna Thorvaldsdottir - In The Light of Air (Existence)

International Contemporary Ensemble

Robert Schumann - Fantasiestücke, Op. 73; III. Rasch und mit Feuer

Sol Gabetta (cello) H退l耀ne Grimaud (piano)

Fats Waller - Two Sleepy People

Rae Morris - Do it (Acoustic Version)

Satie - 3 Gymnopedies for piano, no.1 in D major;

Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)

Saxophonist Jess Gillam is joined by composer Dani Howard to share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with composer Dani Howard.

British composer Dani Howard's distinctive music has been commissioned and performed by the likes of London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. As well as working with orchestras, she collaborates across disciplines, incorporating dance, architecture, film and visual art into her work. She brings this curiosity and open-mindedness to her musical tastes, and has music by composer Mason Bates, singer-songwriter Roo Panes, and gospel musician Kirk Franklin to play to Jess. Jess, in turn, has music by Bach, Fanny Mendelssohn and jazz musician Joe Henderson.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with composer Dani Howard, including tracks by Bach, Fanny Mendelssohn, Roo Panes and Kirk Franklin.

[LISTEN NOW]

Daniel's choices include a string quartet by Thomas Ad耀s, a song by My Bloody Valentine, and the crazy cabaret of HK Gruber; Jess brings lush orchestral scores by Prokofiev and Sibelius, and a souful song from Lorraine Ellison.

Playlist:

DANIEL ELMS: Consolations in travel [BBC Concert Orchestra/Robert Ames]

THOMAS ADES: Arcadiana - VI: 'O Albion' [Endellion String Quartet]

PROKOFIEV: Romeo & Juliet: Act 3, XLVII: Juliet alone [Oslo Philharmonic/Vassily Petrenko]

MY BLOODY VALENTINE: Sometimes

DONNY McASLIN: Body blow

HK GRUBER: Frankenstein!! - Rat song and Crusoe song [BBC Philharmonic/HK Gruber]

SIBELIUS: The Bard [Gothenberg Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Jarvi]

KITAMURA MASASHI & PHONOGENIX: 'Variation III

LORRAINE ELLISON: Stay with me, baby

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and Daniel Pioro share some of their favourite music

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Today's choices:

Britten - Dawn from 4 Sea Interludes (BBC Philharmonic, Edward Gardner)

Gluck - Dance of the Furies from Orfeo ed Euridice (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra)

Joanna Newsom - The Book of Right-On

Tim Buckley - Song to the Siren

Ibert - Flute concerto, 2nd mvt (Clara Andrada, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Jaime Martín)

Hildegard of Bingen - Ancient Suite (Martin Fröst, The Adolf Fredrik's Girls Choir)

Whitney Houston - Didn't we almost have it all

Cleo Sol - 23

Jess Gillam meets flautist Daniel Shao, and they share their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and flautist Daniel Shao play each other their current favourite music, including Britten, Hildegard of Bingen, Whitney Houston and music for flute by Ibert.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with composer David Arnold.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Debussy: Danse profane for harp & orchestra

Tessa Lark: Jig and Pop

Cyrille Aim退e: It's a Good Day

Vega Trails: Love Your Grace

Avner Dorman: Frozen in Time (Indoafrica & Eurasia)

Julius Klengel: Hymnus

Fabiano do Nascimento: Forro Brasil

Jack Hylton & His Orchestra: Life is just a bowl of cherries

Jess Gillam and percussionist Delia Stevens share some of their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Duncan grew up in Kent and got his big conducting break when Simon Rattle created a position for him at the Berlin Philharmonic. He's now chief conductor of the South Netherlands Philharmonic and works with orchestras all over the world from the Met Opera to Staatskapelle Dresden to new music specialists Ensemble Modern.

His music picks include Mahler's epic First Symphony, a tearjerker from Cabaret and a track by Miriam Makeba which is extremely close to his heart. Meanwhile Jess has sparkling music for marimba by Dobrinka Tabakova, a cheeky Shostakovich violin piece and a little bit of glam rock courtesy of Mott the Hoople.

Playlist:

SHOSTAKOVICH - 5 Pieces for two violins and piano (Janine Jansen, Julian Rachlin (violins), Itamar Golan (piano)]

MIRIAM MAKEBA: Emabhaceni

MAHLER: Symphony no 1 in D major - 4th mvt [Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado (conductor)]

MOTT THE HOOPLE: All the Young Dudes

ANNA CLYNE: DANCE - i. When you're broken open [Inbal Segev (cello), London Philharmonic Orchestra, Marin Alsop (conductor)]

KANDER/EBB - Maybe this Time (from Cabaret) [Jessie Buckley, 2021 London Cast Recording]

DOBRINKA TABAKOVA: Desert Swimmers [Joby Burgess (marimba)]

LILI BOULANGER: Vielle priere bouddhique [Monteverdi Choir, London Symphony Orchestra, John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)]

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with conductor Duncan Ward.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

This week Jess Gillam is joined by the singer Ed Lyon, a versatile tenor, celebrated for his interpretation of baroque repertoire. Ed plays Jess some tracks which mean a lot to him, including vocal works by Mozart and Monteverdi, and a something from the Russian American singer songwriter Regina Spektor. Jess brings along some musical discoveries too, including Shostakovich, and the contemporary Serbian composer Isidora Žebeljan.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?.

Jess Gillam and tenor Ed Lyon share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and tenor Ed Lyon share the music they love, including music by Mozart, Monteverdi and Regina Spektor.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Debussy - Suite bergamasque for piano: Clair de lune

Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)

Offenbach - Harmonies des bois, Op. 76; No. 3 Les Larmes de Jacqueline

Mischa Maisky (cello), Dania Hovora (piano)

Abdullah Ibrahim - Ishmael

Abdullah Ibrahim (soprano saxophone), Cecil McBee (double bass), Roy Brooks (drums)

Serge Reggiani - Ma fille

Bremer/McCoy - Ordet

Rachmaninov - Suite No 1 op 5 Fantaisie Tableaux, Barcarolle

Martha Argerich, Alexandre Rabinovitch (piano)

Dusty Springfield - You Don't Have to Say You Love Me

Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64; II. Andante cantabile -

Berliner Philharmoniker, Kirill Petrenko

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with the conductor Edwin Outwater.

American conductor Edwin Outwater is celebrated for his versatility, having worked with several top orchestras, and having also collaborated with Police drummer Stewart Copeland, and rock band Metallica. Recently he became Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra. He joins Jess today to share some of the music that means a lot to him, by the likes of his mentor Michael Tilson Thomas, Henry Mancini (whose music he has conducted at the BBC Proms), and Domenico Scarlatti. Jess has music from Mozart's mentor Padre Martini, Rachmaninov, and Led Zeppelin.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with conductor Edwin Outwater, including tracks by Rachmaninov, Henry Mancini, Padre Martini and Led Zeppelin.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Tracks we played today...

Johann Strauss II - Die Fledermaus; Overture (Carlos Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic)

John Cage - Dream

Britten/Pears - Down by the Salley Gardens

Julia Wolfe - Fire in My mouth: ii. Factory

Jacob Collier - Fascinating Rhythm

Mieczyslaw Karlowicz - Violin Concerto in A Major Op. 8; Finale: Vivace assai

Molly Drake - I Remember

Oscar Peterson - The Bach Suite: Allegro (live)

Jess Gillam is joined by Elisabeth Brauss to swap tracks and share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Anna Meredith - Sawbones

Johann Christian Bach - Sonata No.5 in A Major, Op. 17, No. 5: I. Allegro [Daniil Trifonov, piano]

Elizabeth Maconchy - Quartet for strings no. 1, 1st movement; Allegro feroce [Hanson String Quartet]

Jungle - Keep Moving

Howard Skempton - Lento [BBC Symphony Orchestra, Mark Wigglesworth]

Alberto Iglesias - Los Vestidos Desgarrados

Flora Purim - This Is Me

Luke Howard - Portrait Gallery

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Prokofiev - Symphony no. 1 (Op.25) in D major 'Classical', 4th movement; Molto vivace

London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev

tUnE-yArDs - Water Fountain

Gordon, Lang and Wolfe - Shelter: Before I Enter

Caroline Shaw (vocals), Martha Cluver (vocals), Mellissa Hughes (vocals), Ensemble Signal, Brad Lubman

Ella Fitzgerald - Misty

George Benjamin - Written on Skin - Part one, scene 6

Barbara Hannigan, Bejun Mehta, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, George Benjamin

Marvin Gaye - Abraham, Martin and John

Bach - Double Violin concerto in D minor - 3. Allegro

Isabelle Faust, Akademie fur Alte Musik

Beethoven - Last string quartet, version for String orchestra; III. Lento assai - cantante e tranquillo

Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic

Jess Gillam and soprano Ella Taylor share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess brings along the majesty of Mozart's Requiem, some lunar insanity on the theremin and a cracker of a song by Bettye Swann.

Playlist:

FLORENCE PRICE: Clouds [Lara Downes (piano)]

HARRY REVEL: Lunar Rhapsody (from Music Out of the Moon) [Dr. Samuel J. Hoffman (theremin), Vocal Group and Orchestra/Les Baxter (bandleader)]

TIGRAN HAMASYAN: The Dream Voyager

MOZART: Requiem in D minor - Sequentia - Lachrimosa [Swedish Radio Choir, Berlin Phil/Claudio Abbado]

LILI BOULANGER: Nocturne [Janine Jansen (violin), Itamar Golan (piano)]

BETTYE SWANN: Tell it Like it Is

GEORGE ANTHEIL: Over the Plains [BBC Philharmonic/John Storgards]

LITTLE SIMZ: Woman

Jess Gillam and violinist Ellie Consta share some of the music they love the most.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Mozart - Requiem in D minor K.626; Kyrie + Dies irae (English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir, John Eliot Gardiner)

Steve Reich - Tehillim: I. Psalm 19:2-5 (Alarm Will Sound)

Eugen Cicero - Solfeggio in C minor by C.P.E. Bach (Wq 117 No. 2, H220)

La Boheme; Act 1 ‘Si Mi chiamano Mimi' (Renata Tebaldi, Orchestra Of The Accademia Di Santa Cecilia)

Isobel Waller-Bridge - September

Warsaw Village Band - Musicians Are a Playin

Louis Armstrong - We have all the time in the world

Bax - Tintagel (London Philharmonic Orchestra, Osmo Vanska)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Janacek - Prelude to The Cunning Little Vixen [Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Charles Mackerras]

Odetta - Sometimes I feel like a motherless child

Tose Proeski - Zajdi, Zajdi

Telemann - Concerto in G Major, TWV 51:G2; I. Andante [Andrius Puskunigis, St Christopher Chamber Orchestra, Donatas Katkus]

Janelle Monáe - Neon Valley Street

Bartok - Divertimento for Strings; III. Allegro assai [Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe]

Mara Carlyle – Pianni

J.S Bach - Partita in C minor, BWV 997; III. Sarabande [Sean Shibe]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska share the music they love, including Janelle Monáe, Sean Shibe playing Bach and voices of Mara Carlyle and Odetta.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the conductor Enyi Okpara

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Prokofiev - Lieutenant Kije Suite, Op. 60; IV Troika (Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi)

Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Danny Elfman - What's This?

Ella Fitzgerald - The Secret of Christmas

Philip Lawson - Lullay My Liking (The King's Singers)

Leroy Anderson - Sleigh Ride (Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Christopher Bell)

Gustav Holst (Arr. Gjeilo) - In the Bleak Midwinter (Voces8)

Jacob Collier - In the Bleak Midwinter

Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)

Jess Gillam and composer Eric Whitacre share their favourite Christmas music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Ravel - Le Tombeau de Couperin; I. Prelude [Cleveland Orchestra, Pierre Boulez]

Boards of Canada - Zoetrope

CPE Bach - Sonata In A Minor For Oboe Solo Wq. 132: I Poco Adagio [Branford Marsalis]

Ennio Morricone - Se telefonando [Mina]

Florence Price - Adoration [Randall Goosby]

Peter Maxwell Davies - Farewell to Stromness

The Pixies - Where is my Mind?

Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending [Daniel Pioro]

Jess Gillam and composer Erland Cooper share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jonny Greenwood - House of Woodcock (from the Phantom Threads OST)

Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E minor, op.64 - 2nd mvt

[Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Philharmonia Orchestra, Efrem Kurtz (conductor)]

Jarvis Cocker - Aline

Faure - Chanson d'amour, op.27 no.1

[Barbara Bonney (soprano), Warren Jones (piano)]

William Bell - Tribute to a King

Rachel Portman - Main title from 'Chocolat

Christian Sinding - Rustle of Spring, op.32 no.3

[Christian Ihle Hadland (piano)]

Ibrahim Maalouf - Lily will Soon Be a Woman (live)

Jess Gillam and violinist Esther Abrami swap playlists of tunes they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Today we played:

Handel: Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, HWV46a 'Tu del Ciel ministro eletto' (Julia Lezhneva (soprano), Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini)

Max Richter: moth-like stars Pt. 14 (Max Richter (piano), Ben Russell (violin), Yuki Numata (violin), Caleb Burhans (viola), Clarice Jensen (cello), Brian Snow (cello))

Rodriguez: Crucify your mind

Vivaldi: Concerto for 2 oboes in D minor RV 535 (John Abberger and Washington McClain (oboes), Tafelmusik, Jeanne Lamon)

Josephine Baker: J'ai deux amours

Gnarls Barkley: Crazy

Dvorak: Rondo Op. 94 (Jean-Guihen Queyras (cello), BBC SO, Jiri Belohlavek)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Ravel - Daphnis et Chloe, M. 57; Introduction [New York Philharmonic, Pierre Boulez]

@ngel Gregorio Villoldos - Ad Ay Sa'ab (El Choclo) [Fatma Said, Quinteto @ngel]

Elliott Smith - Between the Bars

Massenet - Manon, Act 5: Ah des Grieux ! O Manon ! [Angela Gheorghiu (Manon), Roberto Alagna (Des Grieux), Orchestre Symphonique et Choeurs de la Monnaie, Antonio Pappano]

Haydn - Symphony No. 44 in E minor, Hob.I.44 ‘Mourning'- IV. Finale (presto) [The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock]

Jane Morgan - If Only I Could Live My Live Again

Dhafer Youssef - Birds Canticum - 'Birds Requiem' Suite

Schumann - Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54; I. Allegro affettuoso [Martha Argerich (piano), Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Alexandre Rabinovitch-Barakovsky]

Jess is joined by soprano Fatma Said for a listening party of the music they love the most

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Mozart - Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat Major, K. 495; III. Rondo, Allegro vivace [Hermann Baumann (horn), Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Pinchas Zukermann]

Piazzolla - Four Seasons of Buenos Aires - Verano Porteno

The Police - Every Breath You Take

Prokofiev - Autumnal Sketch [Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits]

Kate Bush - Pi

Sidney Bechet - Petite Fleur

Saint-Saens - Romance in F major, Op. 36 R. 195 [Mischa Maisky (cello), Orpheus Chamber Orchestra]

Olafur Arnalds - Respite

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Here's what we played this episode...

Leonard Bernstein - Mambo from West Side Story

Johannes Brahms - Piano Quintet in F minor (Scherzo)

Nils Frahm - Ambre from Wintermusik

Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar

Gustav Holst - The Planets - suite Op.32: Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

Fryderyk Chopin - Polonaise op 53 'Heroic

Kate Bush - This Woman's Work

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No 7 (last movement)

Jess Gillam is joined by pianist Fiachra Garvey to swap and share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Singaporean-British mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron sings everything from opera to chamber music, from the baroque to the contemporary. She is mentored by Barbara Hannigan and has performed with LSO, Czech Philharmonic, and San Francisco Symphony. She joins Jess ahead of performing Freya Waley-Cohen's Spell Book with Manchester Collective in London. Her music choices include a contralto version of Schubert's Winterreise, a traditional Uyghur folk song, and a toe-tapping melody from the musical Kiss Me, Kate. Jess brings along 'stadium jazz' from saxophonist Donny McCaslin, elegant incidental music from Purcell, and a joyful explosion of sound from indie band Villagers.

PLAYLIST:

HENRY PURCELL – Abdelazer Z 570 (2nd mvt, Rondeau) [Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner]

COLE PORTER - Too Darn Hot (Kiss Me, Kate) [2019 Broadway Cast Recording]

OLIVIER MESSIAEN – La mort du nombre [Sholto Kynoch (piano), Kaoru Yamada (violin), Rhona McKail (soprano), Nicky Spence (tenor)]

TRADITIONAL UYGHUR – Derdi Tolidur Yarning (Such Pain My Love) [Sanubar Tursun (vocals and dutar)]

WILLIAM WALTON – Symphony No 1 in B flat minor (4th mvt) [London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis]

DONNY MCCASLIN – Stadium Jazz

FRANZ SCHUBERT – Gute Nacht (Winterreise, D 911) [Nathalie Stutzmann (contralto), Inger Södergren (piano)]

VILLAGERS – The First Day

Mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron joins Jess Gillam to swap some of their favourite tracks.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam meets mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron to swap some of their favourite music, including Cole Porter, Messiaen, Donny McCaslin, Schubert and Villagers.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Today Francesca has brought along music from neglected Finnish composer Helvi Leiviskä and a fiendish 12-tone work from Schoenberg, while I've chosen choral music from 16th-century Spain, and David Bowie's swansong.

PLAYLIST:

GIOACHINO ROSSINI – ‘Una voce poco fa' (Il barbiere di Siviglia: Act 1) [Teresa Berganza (mezzo soprano), London Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Gibson (conductor)]

PETER MAXWELL DAVIES – Farewell to Stromness [Richard Casey (piano)]

HELVI LEIVISKA – Orchestral Suite No 2, Op 11 (2nd mvt, Humoresque) [Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Dalia Stasevska (conductor)]

DAVID BOWIE - Lazarus

JOHANNES BRAHMS – Concerto for violin and cello in A minor, Op 102 (2nd mvt, Andante) [Salvatore Accardo (violinist), Heinrich Schiff (cello), Kurt Masur (conductor), Gewandhausorchester]

CRISTOBAL DE MORALES – Pie Jesu (Requiem) [La Capella Reial de Catalunya (choir), Hesperion XX (ensemble), Jordi Savall (director)]

ARNOLD SCHOENBERG – Phantasy for violin and piano [Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin), Joonas Ahonen (piano)]

LANKUM – Wild Rover

Produced by Rachel Gill.

Jess Gillam is joined by violinist Francesca Dego to share some of their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam is joined by violinist Francesca Dego to share some of their favourite tracks, including music from David Bowie, Peter Maxwell Davies and Helvi Leiviskä.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Here's what we listened to today...

Olivier Messiaen - Turangalla-Symphonie; V. Joie Du Sang Des ɀtoiles Vif, Passionn退 Avec Joie

William Byrd - Miserere Mei, Deus arr. Nico Muhly

Jenna Moynihan and Mairi Chaimbeul - Steaph's Red Shoes

Maurice Ravel - Piano concerto in G major - Adagio Assai

Gabriella Smith - Carrot Revolution

King Curtis - A Whiter Shade of Pale

Leoš Janက?ek - Violin Sonata, JW VII/7: 2nd mvt: Ballada con moto

Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony no. 11, 4th movement `Alarm`

Jess Gillam is joined by composer Freya Waley-Cohen to share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Stravinsky - Petrushka First Tableau: The Shrovetide Fair [Concertgebouw, Riccardo Chailly]

Chilly Gonzales - Overnight

Benjamin Britten - Les Illuminations, Op. 18 IX. Depart [Barbara Hendricks, English Chamber Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis]

Alfa Mist - Mulago

John Adams - Shaker Loops IV. A Final Shaking [Orchestra Of St. Luke's, John Adams]

Carole King - So Far Away

CPE Bach: Flute Concerto in A minor, Wq.166, H.431 1. Allegro Assai [Emmanuel Pahud, Kammerakademie Potsdam, Trevor Pinnock]

Scott Walker - Sleepwalkers Woman

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Gabriella and Jess settle in for a listening party of the music they love, including a slice of Italian sunshine from Mendelssohn, a collaboration between folk artist Sam Lee and singer Elizabeth Fraser, a Schumann romance and a classic by Nick Drake.

Playlist:

LUTOSLAWSKI - Variations on a Theme by Paganini [BBC SO/Edward Gardner (conductor)]

TRAD - The Moon Shines Bright [Sam Lee, Elizabeth Fraser]

SCHUMANN - Symphony no 4 - 2nd mvt Romanza [London Symphony Orchestra/John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)]

NICHOLAS BRITELL - Agape

MENDELSSOHN - Symphony no 4 ‘Italian' - 1st mvt [Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Yannick Nezet-Seguin (conductor)]

JAMES BLAKE - Life Round Here

RESPIGHI - Ancient Dances and Airs - Siciliana [Filarmonica della Scala/ Riccardo Chailly (conductor)]

NICK DRAKE - River Man

Jess Gillam and conductor Gabriella Teychenne share some of their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and composer Gavin Higgins share the tracks they love, with music by Schumann, Sibelius, Holst and Rebecca Dale plus perfect pop by Loreen and David Bowie. Gavin tells us about his brass band background and writing his Horn Concerto, plus Jess plays some music to ease you into Saturday evening, including new sounds from Anna Meredith and Manchester Collective.

Jess Gillam and composer Gavin Higgins share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess and Geneva sit down for a listening party of the music they love the most, including tracks by Britten, Brahms and Billie Eilish.

Jess and violinist Geneva Lewis share the music they love the most.

Playlist:

Anton퀀n Dvo?ကk - Piano Quintet No. 2, Op. 81 (3rd mvt) (Andreas Haefliger - piano, Takကcs Quartet)

Missy Mazzoli - Vesper Sparrow (Roomful of Teeth)

Mikael Tariverdiev - Prelude from 17 moments of Spring (Mikael Tariverdiev - piano)

Edward Elgar - Salut d'amour (Itzhak Perlman - violin, Samuel Sanders - piano)

Bobby Hebb - Sunny

Jean Sibelius - Andante Festivo (Gothenburg Symphony, Neeme Jarvi - conductor)

Antony and the Johnsons - Hope There's Someone

Camille Saint-Sa뀀ns - Samson et Dalila, Op. 47, Act II: Mon coeur s'ouvre

Today we listened to...

Bach - Cello suite no 1 BWV 1007 - Yo-yo Ma

Hans Abrahamsen - Let Me Tell You, Pt.III: I Will Go Out Now - Barbara Hannigan, Symphonie-Orchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Andris Nelsons

The Beatles - A day in the life

Cl退ment Janequin - Toutes les nuictz

Mica Levi - Love (from Under the Skin)

Kaija Saariaho - Cloud Trio: I. Calmo, Meditato

Joni Mitchell - A Case of You

Rimsky-Korsakov - Sheherazade: The Sea and Sinbad's Barque: Largo and Maestoso

Jess Gillam is joined by a musical guest to swap tracks and share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

It's This Classical Christmas! Jess Gillam swaps festive tracks with by the conductor, composer, arranger and trumpeter Guy Barker.

Guy's varied career has seen him working across the worlds of jazz, pop, classical, film and theatre, with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Sting to Quincy Jones. His Big Band Christmas concerts raise the roof of the Royal Albert Hall every December, and since 2008 he has been the Musical Director and arranger for the annual Jazz Voice concert at the Barbican.

Guy has brought along music including Bill Evans' take on a festive classic, a Christmas Cantata from Arthur Honegger and a jazz organ version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Jess's choices include a Sleigh Ride from Leroy Anderson, a lullaby from Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov and Ella Fitzgerald revealing The Secret of Christmas.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3'.

Jess Gillam and conductor, composer and trumpeter Guy Barker share festive favourites.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and conductor, composer and trumpeter Guy Barker share their favourite festive music, including pieces by Valentin Silvestrov, Bill Evans, Ella Fitzgerald and Ravel.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and bassoonist Guylaine Eckersley share their favourite tracks, with music by Abel Selaocoe, Pergolesi, Vivaldi, Laura Misch and a guilty pleasure from Frozen 2.

Playlist:

Abel Selaocoe - Ka Bohaleng / On the Sharp Side

Pergolesi - Stabat Mater [Philippe Jaroussky (counter-tenor), Julia Lezhneva (soprano), I Barocchisti, Diego Fasolis]

Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez - Into the Unknown [from Frozen 2]

Rachmaninov - Symphony no 3 [Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nezet Seguin]

Vivaldi - Bassoon Concerto in A minor, rv498 [Sergio Azzolini (bassoon), L'Onda Armonica]

Laura Misch - Glass Shards

Grażyna Bacewicz - Concerto for String Orchestra [Amadeus Chamber Orchestra]

Vaughan Williams - Silent Noon (from the House of Life) [Roderick Williams (baritone) , Iain Burnside (piano)]

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the Polish pianist and composer Hania Rani, whose pieces interweave classical, jazz and electronic influences. Alongside her hugely popular solo piano albums, she's written for film, theatre, art installations and recently recorded her own piano concerto 'Non Fiction' with Manchester Collective.

Hania picks Perotin, Portico Quartet, Cate Le Bon and Ravel, while Jess chooses Radiohead, Debussy and Bach.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the Polish pianist and composer Hania Rani, including tracks by Radiohead, Ravel, Cate Le Bon and Bach.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess is joined by conductor Harry Christophers to swap the music they love the most. Harry is choral royalty and with his choir The Sixteen has released over 150 recordings of music old and new, he was appointed a CBE in 2012, is Grammy nominated and conducts some of the greatest orchestras around the world.

He joins Jess to chat about his love of 70s prog rockers Jethro Tull, why Gladiator is the greatest film ever made, the time he threw the first pitch at Red Sox game and the evergreen aching beauty of Mahler's 9th symphony. Meanwhile Jess ups the tempo with tracks by Abel Selaocoe and Beyonce and finds the one Handel opera Harry has yet to conduct....

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with conductor Harry Christophers.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess is joined by conductor Harry Christophers to swap the music they love the most, with bouncing tracks by Abel Selaocoe and Beyonce, and an aching finale by Mahler.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess is joined by conductor Harry Christophers to swap the music they love the most. Harry is choral royalty and with his choir The Sixteen has released over 150 recordings of music old and new, he was appointed a CBE in 2012, is Grammy nominated and conducts some of the greatest orchestras around the world.

He joins Jess to chat about his love of 70s prog rockers Jethro Tull, why Gladiator is the greatest film ever made, the time he threw the first pitch at Red Sox game and the evergreen aching beauty of Mahler's 9th symphony. Meanwhile Jess ups the tempo with tracks by Abel Selaocoe and Beyonce and finds the one Handel opera Harry has yet to conduct....

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with conductor Harry Christophers.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess is joined by conductor Harry Christophers to swap the music they love the most, with bouncing tracks by Abel Selaocoe and Beyonce, and an aching finale by Mahler.

[LISTEN NOW]

Today they sit down to listen to a full-blooded folk waltz by Warsaw Village Band, a symphony with all the tunes by Dvorak, Stevie Wishart channelling Hildegard of Bingen and a surprisingly emotional David Bowie cover by M Ward.

Playlist:

WARSAW VILLAGE BAND - At My Mother's

ERIK SATIE - Gnossienne No.1 [Alexandre Tharaud (piano)]

LEONARD BERNSTEIN - Chichester Psalms 1st mvt. Psalm 108 vs 2, Psalm 100 [Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Marin Alsop (conductor)]

M WARD - Let's Dance

ANTONIN DVORAK - Symphony no 9 - 4th mvt [Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra / Andris Nelsons (conductor)]

STEVIE WISHART - Azeruz

ELIZA CARTHY & MARTIN GREEN - Fen

LITTLE SIMZ & MICHAEL KIWANUKA - Flowers

Jess Gillam and singer/multi-instrumentalist Hazel Askew swap their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, she is joined by another young musician to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Heloise share music by Shostakovich, Strauss, Meredith Monk and Graham Fitkin.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Vivaldi - Bassoon Concerto in E Minor, RV 484: III. Allegro [Sergio Azzolini (bassoon) Ensemble L'aura Soave Cremona]

Michel Legrand - A Piece of Sky (from Yentl) [Barbra Streisand]

Anders Hillborg - Violin Concerto No.1 [Anna Lindal (violin), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen]

Vaughan Williams - On Wenlock Edge: Bredon Hill [Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor), Graham Johnson (piano), Duke Quartet]

Dictaphone - Nr. 12

Bernstein - Candide Overture [Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic]

Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman

Britten - Concord [Matthew Barley]

Jess Gillam and Hugh Cutting share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Today we listened to...

Krzysztof Penderecki: Sinfonietta No. 1 - Vivace

Sergei Rachmaninoff - Prelude in C-Sharp Minor (No. 2), Op. 3.

Frederic Rzewski - Attica

John Barry - The Knack - and How to Get it.

Benjamin Britten - Friday Afternoons, Op. 7: Cuckoo!

Terence Blanchard - Leeves

Gustavo Santaolalla - De Usuahia a la Quiaca

JS Bach - Badinerie from Orchestral Suite No.2 in B minor, BWV1067

Jess and Ian swap tracks including music by Penderecki and Terence Blanchard.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps music choices and life stories with the trumpet player Imogen Whitehead. Imogen shares her experience of being the Principal Trumpet of the Britten Sinfonia, playing as a soloist and the music she listened to on road-trips growing up. There is music by Copland, Barber, Beyonce and Jess brings choices by Vivaldi, Janacek and Ruhi Erdogan.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?.

Jess Gillam swaps music choices with trumpeter Imogen Whitehead.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam meets the trumpet player Imogen Whitehead for a listening party with music by Copland, Barber, Vivaldi and Beyonce.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

GEORGY SVIRIDOV: The Bells of Dawn [Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone), The Grand Choir ‘Masters of Choral Singing'/Lev Kontorovich (cond)]

AMY WINEHOUSE: Love is a Losing Game

ARNO BABADJANIAN: Piano Trio in F sharp - 2nd mvt ‘Allegro' [David Ostrakh (violin), Sviatoslav Knushevitsky (cello) Arno Babadjanian (piano)]

JOHN ADAMS: China Gates [Bruce Brubaker (piano)]

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires - Invierno Porteကo `Winter` [Lara St John (violin), Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela/Eduardo Marturet]

ANOMALIE: M退tropole

RACHMANINOV: Symphonic Dances, op.45 - no.2 Tempo di Valse [Berlin Philharmonic/Simon Rattle (cond)]

DINICU: The Skylark (Ciocarlia) [Gheorghe Zamfir (pan flute)]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, she is joined by another young musician to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Isata swap tracks by Beyonce, Radiohead, Brahms and Michael Nyman.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Isata brings along some of her favourite tracks, including Leonard Bernstein, Philip Glass and Bob Marley. Jess has a vintage recording of Tchaikovsky's piano music, and a Nina Simone take on a Rodgers & Hart classic.

Plus there's more of the best music, new and old, to pave the way for Saturday evening.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam talks to pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, and they share some of their favourite tracks, including music by Bernstein, Bob Marley and Nina Simone.

Jess and Isobel sit down for a listening party of the music they love the most - Isobel offers some stunning moments of calm by Hinako Omori and a tuba jam by Sons of Kemet, while Jess interrupts the peace with an intimate song by Noah Yorke and possibly the funkiest string quartet ever written by Ravel.

Playlist:

HINAKO OMORI: Yearning

RAVEL: String Quartet - 2nd mvt 'Assez vif' [Quator Eb耀ne]

SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS: Open Your Eyes

CHOPIN: Nocturne no.8 in D flat major, op.27 no.2 [Maurizio Pollini (piano)]

NOAH YORKE: Trying too Hard (Lullaby)

SONS OF KEMET: To Never Forget the Source

Jess Gillam and composer Isobel Waller-Bridge chat about the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam meets pianist Ivana Gavrić to share their favourite tracks from Janacek, Caroline Shaw, Jimi Hendrix and Artie Shaw. Jess hears about Ivana's childhood in Sarajevo, her role as a hand double in films and the two share enjoyable experiences of working with living composers.

Produced by Zerlina Vulliamy.

Jess Gillam and pianist Ivana Gavri\u0107 share their favourite tracks.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam meets pianist Ivana Gavrić to share their favourite tracks from Janacek, Caroline Shaw, Jimi Hendrix and Artie Shaw. Jess hears about Ivana's childhood in Sarajevo, her role as a hand double in films and the two share enjoyable experiences of working with living composers.

Produced by Zerlina Vulliamy.

Jess Gillam and pianist Ivana Gavri\u0107 share their favourite tracks.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Joseph Haydn - Piano Concerto in D major, Hob. XVIII:11 (Alexandre Tharaud, Violons du Roy)

David Bowie & Gail Ann Dorsey - Under Pressure (from the album A Reality Tour)

Ibrahim Maalouf - Will Soon be a Woman

Bela Bartok - The Miraculous Mandarin: Introduction (Philharmonia Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen)

Caroline Shaw - And So (Caroline Shaw with the Attacca Quartet)

Jocelyn Pook - Oppenheimer (from the album Flood)

Johann Paul von Westhoff - Sonata No.3 in D minor (David Plantier violin, Les plaisirs du Parnasse)

Bob Dylan - A Hard Rain's A?Gonna Fall

Jess shares tracks with pianist Iyad Sughayer.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Franz Ignaz Beck - Symphony in C major, Op. 1, No 6, I. Allegro [New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, Donald Armstrong]

Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders - Movement 1 (Promises)

Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen - Waltz After Lasse in Lyby [The Danish String Quartet]

Debussy - String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 10, CD 91, L. 85: III. Andantino. Doucement expressif [Ebene Quartet]

Barbara Moore - Steam Heat

Domenico Scarlatti - Sonata in F Minor, K466 [Vladimir Horowitz]

Chiwoniso - Zvichapera

Mahler - Symphony No.4: I. Bed䀀chtig, nicht eilen [Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Carlos Gardel - Por Una Cabeza (Arr. John Lenehan) - Nicola Benedetti (violin), Ksenija Sidorova (accordion), Leonard Elschenbroich (cello), Leonard Elschenbroich (piano), Alexander Sitkovesky (violin)

John Cage - In a landscape (Alexei Lubimov - piano

Chris Thile, Brad Meldhau - Tabhair dom do Lamh

Mahler - Piano Quartet in A minor - Gidon Kremer (violin), Veronika Hagen (viola), Clemens Hagen (cello), Oleg Maisenberg (piano)

Missy Mizzoli - Song From the Uproar: Overture - Abigail Fischer (mezzo), NOW Ensemble, Steven Osgood

Josin - Company (Kiasmos Remix)

Sven-David Sandstr怀m - Agnus Die - Swedish Radio Choir, Peter Dijkstra

Schubert - Symphony no. 8 (D.759) in B minor 'Unfinished', 1: Allegro moderato - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlos Kleiber

Jess Gillam and composer Jacob M\u00fchlrad share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Plus Jakub shares how he ended up becoming one of the world's biggest countertenors by drawing straws in his choir (and losing) and how his past as a skateboarder and breakdancer influenced the music he loves

Playlist:

Gregory Porter - Everything You Touch is Gold

John Harle - The Interpretation of Dreams [John Harle (sax), Doric Quartet, Sarah Leonard (voice)]

O.S.T.R. - O robieniu bit　w

Aleksander Debicz - Recipe [Aleksander Debicz (piano), Lukasz Kuropaczewski (guitar)]

Air - Playground Love

Handel - Dove sei (from Rodelinda) [Andreas Scholl (countertenor), Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin]

Joy Crookes - When You Were Mine

Jess Gillam and countertenor Jakub Josef Orlinski chat about the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Pianist James Baillieu has worked with musicians including Lise Davidsen, Timothy Ridout and Pretty Yende, and has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Vienna Musikverein. He is also Senior Professor of Ensemble Piano and a Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He's brought Martha Argerich playing Schumann and a classic Bob Dylan song, while Jess's choices include Mahler and Goldfrapp.

PLAYLIST:

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART – “Signori, di fuori ? (Le nozze de Figaro: Act 2, Scene 9) [Lorenzo Regazzo (bass), Simon Keenlyside (baritone), Patrizia Ciofi (sop), Véronique Gens (sop), Concerto Köln, René Jacobs (cond)]

JOHN ADAMS – Hallelujah Junction (1st mvt) [Nicolas Hodges (piano), Rolf Hind (piano)]

BOB DYLAN – Blowin' in the Wind

GUSTAV MAHLER – Symphony No 5 in C sharp minor (4th mvt, Adagietto) [Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel (cond)]

JUAN TIZOL/DUKE ELLINGTON/IRVING MILLS – Caravan [Ella Fitzgerald (singer), Duke Ellington and his Orchestra]

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH – Cello Suite No 2 in D minor, BWV 1008 (4th mvt, Sarabande) [Yo-Yo Ma (cello)]

ROBERT SCHUMANN - Von fremden Ländern und Menschen (Kinderszenen, Op 15: No 1) [Martha Argerich (piano)]

GOLDFRAPP – Lovely Head

Produced by Rachel Gill.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam talks to a guest about their classical life.

For their listening party, James has brought along music from minimalist composer John Adams and folktronica group Bon Iver, whilst Jess has chosen a Monteverdi madrigal and a track from pioneer jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby.

Plus Jess plays some of the best music to take you into Saturday evening.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps tracks with organist and pianist James McVinnie, including music by Bon Iver, Handel and Claire M Singer.

Playlist:

MOZART: Marriage of Figaro - Overture [Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Yannick Nezet Seguin (conductor)]

DONALD GRANT: Bha lက eile ann [Elena Urioste (violin), Tom Poster (piano)]

HERBERT HOWELLS: Nunc Dimittis (from Collegium Regale) [Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Stephen Cleobury]

CELESTE: Strange

JOHN ADAMS: Short Ride in a Fast Machine [City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle (conductor)]

DILYS ELWYN EDWARDS: The Cloths of Heaven (Gwiseg Nefoedd) [Bryn Terfel (baritone), Malcolm Martineau (piano)]

CORELLI: Follia [Hesperion XXI, Jordi Savall]

SARAH VAUGHAN: Be My Love

Jess Gillam and baritone James Newby swap some of their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Revised repeat.

Jess Gillam and baritone James Newby swap some of their favourite tracks, including the incredible voices of Bryn Terfel and Sarah Vaughan and music by Celeste and John Adams.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps tracks with Jane Mitchell, the principle flautist and Creative Director of Aurora Orchestra. As well as her work with Aurora, Jane regularly plays with other leading orchestras including the Gabrieli Consort, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

Jane's picks include a beautiful piece by Madeleine Dring, some cosmic Thomas Adès, and the powerful voice of Tori Amos, while Jess brought music from Shostakovich, John Cage, and jazz legend Charlie Parker.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the flautist Jane Mitchell.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps tracks with Jane Mitchell, the principle flute and Creative Director of Aurora Orchestra, including music by Shostakovich, Tori Amos and Thomas Adès.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Rachmaninov: El退gie (Morceaux de Fantasie, Op 3 No 1)

Nishat Khan: Raga Gaoti

Nick Cave / Nicholas Lens: Litany of Gathering Up

Monteverdi: Ahi, caso acerbo! (L'Orfeo)

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: This Land is Your Land

Philip Glass: Violin concerto

Nadia Boulanger: Cantique

Abi Sampa & Rushil: Man Kunto Maula (Orchestral Qawwali)

Jess Gillam shares music with sitarist and composer Jasdeep Singh Degun.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake - op.20 Act 2, No. 10 (LSO, Andre Previn)

Arve Henriksen - Arco Akropolis

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Let's Call the whole thing off

Pan Daijing – Phenomenon

Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique – Un Bal (West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim)

Mosseri, Herskedal, Talbot, Marshall - San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)

Penguin Cafe Orchestra - The Sound of Someone You Love Who's Going Away and It Doesn't Matter

Shostakovich - Piano Concerto No. 2: II. Andante (Dmitri Shostakovich Jr, I Musici De Montreal, Maxim Shostakovich)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam is joined by the Scottish composer and saxophonist Jay Capperauld, who is currently the associate composer of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and has worked with a massive range of ensembles from the BBC Philharmonic to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. In 2023, he was commissioned by King Charles III to write a piece for the Honours of Scotland celebrations in St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, and his accordion concerto, Galvanic Dances, won the European Composition Award 2025 presented by the Young Euro Classic festival at the Konzerthaus in Berlin.

Jay chooses music from Gordon McPherson, Kate Bush and Ozzy Osbourne, while Jess's picks include pieces by Vivaldi, Purcell and Biluka y los Canibales.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3'.

Jess Gillam meets Scottish composer Jay Capperauld to share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam meets Scottish composer and saxophonist Jay Capperauld to share the music they love, including tracks by Vivaldi, Gordon McPherson and Kate Bush.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam is joined by the Scottish composer Jay Capperauld, who is currently the associate composer of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and has worked with a massive range of ensemble from the BBC Philharmonic to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. In 2023 he was commissioned by King Charles III to write a piece for the Honours of Scotland celebrations in St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, and his accordion concerto, Galvanic Dances, won the European Composition Award 2025 presented by the Young Euro Classic festival at the Konzerthaus in Berlin.

Jay chooses music from Gordon McPherson, Kate Bush, and Ozzy Osbourne, while Jess's picks include pieces by Vivaldi, Purcell and Biluka y los Canibales.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3'.

Jess Gillam meets Scottish composer Jay Capperauld to share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam meets Scottish composer Jay Capperauld to share the music they love, including tracks by Vivaldi, Gordon McPherson and Kate Bush.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess's guest this week is the pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason.

Award-winning pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason has been captivating audiences with her playing from an early age, she holds the Victoria Robey Scholarship at the Royal College of Music and in 2021 she made her BBC Proms debut at the age of 19.

Jess and Jeneba talk about her life in music and swap favourite tracks to listen to, including music by Kaija Saariaho, Rachmaninov and Beyoncé.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, including music by Saariaho, Rachmaninov and Beyoncé.

Jess and Jeneba talk about her life in music and swap favourite tracks to listen to, including music by Kaija Saariaho, Rachmaninov and Beyonce.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with pianist Jeneba Kanneh Mason including music by Saariaho, Rachmaninov and Beyonce.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam and violinist Jennifer Pike share the music they love, with tracks from Haydn to Bach via Quincy Jones, Debussy, Bill Evans, Tchaikovsky and Nina Simone.

Jennifer talks about discovering her Polish roots and the joys of recording Miklos Rozsa's fiendishly difficult but sublime Violin Concerto, plus Jess plays some of the best music to take you into Saturday evening including brand new music from duo Fran & Flora.

Jess Gillam shares music with violinist Jennifer Pike.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares music with violinist Jennifer Pike, with tracks from Haydn to Bach via Quincy Jones, Debussy, Bill Evans, Tchaikovsky and Nina Simone.

[LISTEN NOW]

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

And here's what we played today...

Mozart - Clarinet Concerto KV 622 i. Allegro

A Hard Day's Night - Beatles

Franz Schubert - Der Hirt auf dem Felsen for voice, clarinet and piano (D.965)

John Harle - A Painted Life: IV. Painted Life

Richard Strauss - Eine Alpensinfonie (Op.64) VI. Auf dem Gipfel

Jess: Satie - Je Te veux

Vulfpeck - Animal Spirits

Mussorgsky - The Great Gate of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition

Jess Gillam is joined by clarinettist Jessie Grimes to share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam sits down for a listening party with the singer, pianist, composer and broadcaster Joe Stilgoe. The son of entertainer Richard Stilgoe, Joe started out as a singer before reaching the world of jazz, musical theatre and comedy. Since then he has released ten albums and regularly appears on radio and TV. Joe brings music by Leonard Bernstein, Bizet, Bon Iver and Glen Miller and Jess's choices include some Benjamin Britten, an improvisatory viola da gamba and Schubert. Jess and Joe chat about musical upbringings, what makes a great song and how Joe found the world of jazz.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3'.

Jess Gillam sits down for a listening party with the pianist and singer, Joe Stilgoe.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam sits down for a listening party with the singer, pianist, composer and broadcaster Joe Stilgoe. There's music from Carmen, Bon Iver and Glen Miller.

Jess Gillam sits down for a listening party with the singer and composer Joe Stilgoe.

[LISTEN NOW]

At 23 years old, Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene is already the winner of several awards, including the prestigious Carl Nielsen Competition in 2019, the Gramophone Young Artist of the Year Award in 2022, and a Swedish Grammy in 2023. His music choices include a squelchy bassline from Thundercat, a Swedish Eurovision classic, and a virtuosic violin concerto that's close to his heart. Jess's choices include Bernstein conducting a favourite Mozart symphony, and music from the saxophonist Branford Marsalis.

PLAYLIST:

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN – Sonata for Violin and Piano No 8 in G major, Op 30 No 3 (3rd mvt) [Gidon Kremer, Martha Argerich]

BRANFORD MARSALIS – A Thousand Autumns [Branford Marsalis Quartet]

TOMMY KÖRBERG - Stad i ljus (City in Light)

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART – Symphony No 40 in G minor, K 550 (1st mvt) [Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein]

THUNDERCAT – Them Changes

CARL NIELSEN – Violin Concerto Op 33 (IIb – Rondo: Allegretto Scherzando) [Arve Tellefsen, Yehudi Menuhin, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]

YEAH YEAH YEAHS FT. PERFUME GENIUS – Spitting Off the Edge of the World

PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY – The Nutcracker, Op 71: Miniature Overture [Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra]

Jess Gillam swaps music with Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam meets Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene to swap some of their favourite music, including Carl Nielsen, Thundercat, and Mozart.

Jess Gillam talks to a guest about their classical life.

Playlist:

Haydn - Symphony No. 101 in D major 'The Clock' - finale (Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado - conductor)

Piazzolla - Oblivion (Gidon Kremer - violin, Per Arne Glorvigen - bandoneon, Alois Posch - double bass, Vadim Sakharov - piano)

Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up

Anna Clyne - DANCE: I. when you're broken open (Inbal Segev - cello, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Marin Alsop - conductor)

Verdi - `Cortigiani, Vil Razza Dannata` - Rigoletto, Act 2 (Sherrill Milnes - baritone, Rigoletto, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge - conductor)

Nick Drake - Place to Be

Brahms - Piano Trio, Op. 8 in B - 1st mvt, Allegro con brio (Jascha Heifetz - violin, Arthur Rubinstein - piano, Emanuel Feuermann - cello)

Michael Nyman - Water Dances - Stroking - Syncronizing (Michael Nyman Band)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Jonathon share music by Stravinsky, Satie, Stevie Wonder and Madeleine Peyroux.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jamaican-American violist Jordan Bak is a proud new music advocate – he's performed world premieres of works by composers including Kaija Saariaho and Augusta Read Thomas. His debut album IMPULSE was released in 2022 and he's performed with orchestras including London Mozart Players. His musical picks include works by Florence Price, reggae singer Koffee, and Benjamin Britten, whilst Jess has chosen a classic Radiohead track and Stokowski's take on Bach.

PLAYLIST:

FLORENCE PRICE – String Quartet No 2 in A minor (3rd mvt, Juba) [Catalyst Quartet]

FANNY MENDELSSOHN - Schluss [Heather Schmidt (piano)]

PALACE – Live Well

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH, ARR LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI – Passacaglia And Fugue in C minor, BWV 582 [Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor)]

KOFFEE – Toast

RADIOHEAD – House of Cards

BENJAMIN BRITTEN – Night Piece “Notturno ? [Stephen Hough (piano)]

ALABAMA SHAKES – Don't Wanna Fight

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam meets Jamaican-American violist Jordan Bak to share some of their favourite music, including Florence Price, Benjamin Britten and Radiohead.

Playlist:

Trad - Kathryn Oggie [Baltimore Consort]

Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture [Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov (conductor)]

Nigel Westlake - Shards of Jaisalmer [Grigoryan Brothers]

Nick Drake - Saturday Sun

Mike Oldfield - Incantations (pt 4)

Punch Brothers - All Ashore

Schumann - Traumerei, op.15 no.7 [Martha Argerich (piano)]

The Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town

Jess Gillam and pianist Joseph Havlat swap tunes they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam chats to clarinettist Julian Bliss about the music they love the most

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Clarinettist Julian Bliss chats to Jess Gillam about the music he loves the most.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Here's the music we played today...

Rachmaninov - Symphonic Dances, 1st movement

Kurt Weill - The Ballad of Mack the Knife (Threepenny Opera)

Sibelius - Symphony No.4, 3rd movement

Jutta Rahmel/Sibelius Academy Folk Big Band - Levoton syd䀀n

Anders Hillborg - Violin Concerto No.2

Falla - 7 Canciones populares espaကolas (arr. Mischa Maisky)

Radiohead - Everything in its right place

Nico Muhly - Motion

Finnish conductor Kaapo Ijas's tracks include Sibelius and Radiohead.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

His music picks are all based around the piano - from the pure romance of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto, to the video game imagination of Ryuichi Sakamoto and the latin funk of Stevie Wonder. Meanwhile Jess finds a new inspiration in Sibelius's Third Symphony, one of her teenage soundtracks in Massive Attack and an uneasy waltz by Shostakovich.

Playlist:

MILES DAVIS: Nardis [Bill Evans Trio]

SHOSTAKOVICH: Jazz Suite no.2 - Waltz no 2 [Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Riccardo Chailly (conductor)]

RUYICHI SAKAMOTO: Seven Samurai: Ending Theme

RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto no 2 - 2nd mvt Adagio sostenuto [Khatia Buniatishvilli (piano), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Paavo Jarvi (conductor)]

MASSIVE ATTACK: Hymn of the Big Wheel

CHOPIN: Waltz op.64 no.2 in C sharp minor [Arthur Rubinstein (piano)]

SIBELIUS: Symphony no.3 - 2nd mvt Andantino [BBC Philharmonic /John Storgards (conductor)]

STEVIE WONDER: Another Star

Jess Gillam and pianist Karim Kamar swap favourite music

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Kate is an award-winning composer and pianist, who also runs the Multi-Story Orchestra. The orchestra was born in a multi-story car park in Peckham, and perform in car parks around the country, as they wanted to take classical music out of formal concert halls. They also create hugely powerful musical projects like the RPS Award-winning The Endz that involve the local community and young people in their music making.

Kate and Jess settle in for a listening party of the music they love including a beautiful work by Caroline Shaw and Bjork, the biggest of brass by Mussorgsky, bluegrass courtesy of the Goat Rodeo and a contender for greatest ever cover version by the Pet Shop Boys.

Playlist:

CAROLINE SHAW – Partita for 8 Singers: 2. Sarabande [Roomful of Teeth]

MUSSORGSKY – Night on Bald Mountain [Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti (conductor)]

BJORK: Pneumonia

GOAT RODEO - Attaboy [Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, Yo Yo Ma]

VIVALDI – La Folia [Apollo's Fire, Jeannette Sorell]

SON LUX - This is a Life [Mitski, David Byrne]

GABRIELE MIRABASSI – Girotondo [Gabriele Mirabassi [clarinet), Luciano Biondini (accordion)]

PET SHOP BOYS: Always on My Mind

Composer Kate Whitley joins Jess to swap some of their favourite tracks.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Composer Kate Whitley joins Jess to swap some of their favourite tracks, including music by Bjork, Vivaldi, Mussorgsky, Caroline Shaw and the Pet Shop Boys.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and pianist Kathryn Stott share the tracks they love, with music by Rachmaninov, Puccini, Sibelius, Graham Fitkin, Donny McCaslin and Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess's guest this week is the accordionist Ksenija Sidorova.

Ksenija hails originally from Latvia and is one of classical music's greatest champions and virtuosos of the accordion. She performs all over the world with some of the greatest orchestras and musicians, and she's also passionate about commissioning new music for her instrument and works closely with composers to expand the accordion's repertoire!

Jess and Ksenija talk about her life in music, how she first fell in love with the accordion and swap favourite tracks to listen to including music by Shostakovich and Vivaldi, a surprising Latvian connection with the music of Holst, music to drink coffee to by Otis Redding and Piazzolla and Kurt Weill at his most sentimental.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the accordionist Ksenija Sidorova.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the accordionist Ksenija Sidorova, including tracks by Shostakovich, Tonu Korvits, Astor Piazzolla, Vivaldi and Otis Redding.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess's guest this week is the accordionist Ksenija Sidorova.

Ksenija hails originally from Latvia and is one of classical music's greatest champions and virtuosos of the accordion. She performs all over the world with some of the greatest orchestras and musicians, and she's also passionate about commissioning new music for her instrument and works closely with composers to expand the accordion's repertoire!

Jess and Ksenija talk about her life in music, how she first fell in love with the accordion and swap favourite tracks to listen to including music by Shostakovich and Vivaldi, a surprising Latvian connection with the music of Holst, music to drink coffee to by Otis Redding and Piazzolla and Kurt Weill at his most sentimental.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the accordionist Ksenija Sidorova.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the accordionist Ksenija Sidorova, including tracks by Shostakovich, Tonu Korvits, Astor Piazzolla, Vivaldi and Otis Redding.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Bill Evans - Like Someone in Love

Shara Worden - From the Invisible to the Visible

Ravel - Pavane pour un enfant defunte (Louis Lortie (piano))

Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from my Friends

Sibelius - Violin Concerto, 3rd mvt (Hilary Hahn (violin), Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Esa?Pekka Salonen (conductor))

Chet Baker - While My Lady Sleeps

Shostakovich - Cello Concerto, 1st mvt (Sol Gabetta (cello), Munich Philharmonic, Lorin Maazel (conductor))

Tsegue Maryam Guebrou - Homesickness, pt 2

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto No. 1; first movement [Vladimir Ashkenazy, London Symphony Orchestra, Lorin Maazel]

Kenya Grace - Strangers

John Mackey – Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble [ Timothy McAllister, ASU Wind Ensemble]

Sven Nyhus – Fanitullen (The Devil's Dance)

Domenico Scarlatti – Sonata in F minor, K. 466 [Vladimir Horowitz]

Tarquinio Merula - Ciaccona [His Majesty's Sackbuts and Cornetts]

King Curtis – Memphis Soul Stew

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber - Requiem in F minor - Dies Irae [Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Sibelius - Impromptu V (Leif Ove Andnes)

Bendik Giske - Cruising

Sarah Vaughan - Just One of Those Things

Hildegard von Bingen - O vis eternitatis (Sequentia)

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Three Little Birds

Saint-Saens - Carnival of the Animals: The Swan (Sheku, Jeneba, and Isata Kanneh-Mason)

Strozzi - Che si puo fare? (Simone Kermes, Enrico Casazza)

Bjork - The Anchor Song

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

John Tavener: The Lamb (Tenebrae, Nigel Short, conductor)

Burt Bacharach/Hal David: I say a little prayer (Aretha Franklin)

Lauryn Hill: Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Lauryn Hill)

Buxton/Ratcliffe/Kekaula: Good Luck (Basement Jaxx, Lisa Kekaula)

Laurie Anderson: O Superman (Laurie Anderson)

Trad (Bulgarian): Bu?imiš (Avi Avital, mandolin, Itamar Doari, percussion)

Phillip Houghton: Wave Radiance (Los Angeles Guitar Quartet)

Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14 - V Dream of a witches' Sabbath (Orchestre de Paris, Charles Munch, conductor)

With music by John Tavener, Laurie Anderson, Berlioz and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's Baftas, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast from BBC Sounds.

Jess Gillam and Lauren Fagan share music from Copland to Queen, John Adams and Schubert.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Johann Strauss II - An der sch怀nen, blauen Donau, Op. 314 [Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan]

Peter Gabriel - With this Love

The Chieftains - The Humours of Carolan

Debussy - Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello in G Major, L. 3: Third Movement [Andre Previn (piano), Julie Rosenfeld (violin), Gary Hoffman (cello)]

Unsuk Chin - Violin Concerto; Movement I [Viviane Hagner (violin), Orchestre symphonique de Montr退al, Kent Nagano]

Korngold - Cello Concerto in C Major, Op.37; I. Allegro moderato, ma con fuoco [Edgar Moreau (cello), Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Michael Sanderling]

Jess Gillam chats to harpist Lavinia Meijer about music they both love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam's guest this week is the baritone and cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat, an artist who moves between multiple genres, from touring his production ICONS, to creating the children's show Duckie, to appearing at the Bayreuth Festival in Wagner's Tannhäuser. Gateau brings along his favourite tracks to share with Jess, including music by Margaret Bonds, Anonhi and Samara Joy. Jess has tracks by Charlie Parker and Tchaikovsky.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?.

Jess Gillam shares music with baritone and cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares music with baritone and cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat, including music by Margaret Bonds, Tchaikovsky and Anonhi.

[LISTEN NOW]

Tracks we played today...

Richard Strauss - Ein Heldenleben, op.40

The Comet is Coming - The Universe Wakes Up

Antonio Bazzini - La ronde des lutins (Scherzo fantastique), Op. 25

Ilse Weber - Wiegala

Judd Greenstein - Clearing, Dawn , Dance

Schubert - Minuet in C-Sharp Minor, D. 600

Otis Redding - Cigarettes and Coffee

Walton - Then Sing Aloud to God, pt. 2

Jess Gillam is joined by Leif Kaner-Lidstrom to swap tracks and share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Lise Davidsen has been described as “the greatest soprano in the world right now ?, with a “one-in-a-million voice ?. Her performance at the Last Night of the Proms 2023 received rave reviews, and she has sung at iconic venues including the Metropolitan Opera House, Royal Opera House, and Teatro alla Scala, Milan. And she's just released a whole album of seasonal favourites and Nordic delights via Decca, called Christmas From Norway.

Lise brings along a haunting Scandinavian carol, a sugary-sweet soundtrack from a cult Christmas film, and a modern classic from Coldplay. Jess's choices include a traditional English wassail song, a rock'n'roll Rudolph from Chuck Berry, and a Christmas jig from Yo-Yo Ma and Natalie MacMaster.

PLAYLIST:

ADOLPHE ADAM – O helga natt (Cantique de Noel, O Holy Night) [Jussi Björling]

NATALIE MCMASTER/ TRAD. FRENCH-CANADIAN - A Christmas Jig/Mouth of the Tobique Reel [Yo-Yo Ma, Natalie McMaster]

CHUCK BERRY – Run Rudolph Run

KAREL SVOBODA – Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel (Three Wishes for Cinderella): Motiv - Einleitung

TRAD. ENGLISH – Wassail Song [John Kirkpatrick and friends]

SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR – The Forest of Wild Thyme Op 74: Christmas Overture (arr. Sydney Baynes for orchestra)

TRAD. SCANDINAVIAN – Mitt hjerte alltid vanker (My Heart Forever Dwells) [arr. O. Matre for chorus]

COLDPLAY – Christmas Lights

Jess Gillam and soprano Lise Davidsen share their favourite Christmas music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen share their favourite festive music in a very Christmassy edition of This Classical Life.

ADOLPHE ADAM – O helga natt (Adams julsång) [Jussi Björling]

NATALIE MACMASTER/ TRAD. FRENCH-CANADIAN - A Christmas Jig/Mouth of the Tobique Reel [Yo-Yo Ma, Natalie MacMaster]

Jess Gillam swaps musical choices with the violinist, singer, educator and event producer Lizzie Ball. Ahead of International Women's Day there is music by Hildegard of Bingen, Missy Mazzoli, Florence Price, Lauryn Hill and Mariana Martines as well as Schubert, Nitin Sawhney and Chopin. Lizzie chats to Jess about her new venture bringing classical music to the iconic jazz club, Ronnie Scott's, and swaps stories about working with industry greats from The Sixteen to Brian Wilson.

To listen on most smart speakers just say, 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?.

Jess Gillam swaps music choices with violinist Lizzie Ball.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps music choices with the violinist, singer and educator Lizzie Ball.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam swaps musical choices with the violinist, singer, educator and event producer Lizzie Ball. Ahead of International Women's Day, there is music by Hildegard of Bingen, Missy Mazzoli, Florence Price, Lauryn Hill and Marianna Martines as well as Schubert, Nitin Sawhney and Chopin. Lizzie chats to Jess about her new venture bringing classical music to the iconic jazz club Ronnie Scott's and swaps stories about working with industry greats from The Sixteen to Brian Wilson.

To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?.

Jess Gillam swaps music choices with violinist Lizzie Ball.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps music choices with the violinist, singer and educator Lizzie Ball.

[LISTEN NOW]

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's Bafta awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Lloyd share a sabre dance and music by Anna Meredith, Sibelius and Kraftwerk.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Nikolai Lugansky, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo)

Cesကria ɀvora - Sodade

Louis Andriessen - M is for Man, Music, Mozart: Einstein song

Schubert - String Quintet in C Major, D.956; I. Allegro ma non toppo (Alban Berg Quartett, Heinrich Schiff)

Thom Yorke - Suspirium

Tobias Hume (d.1645) - The Earle of Salisbury's Favoret ‘Sweet Musicke' (Jordi Savall, Hesp退rion XXI)

Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll

Mahler - Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major - ‘Symphony of a Thousand' Part 1 (Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado)

Jess Gillam and mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean share music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Ssega came with some truly epic Elgar played by Sheku Kanneh Mason, a serious ear worm of an opera chorus by Verdi, and introduced Jess to the incredible voice of Alice Smith (she's been listening to her on loop since). Meanwhile Jess played Ssega Vivaldi arranged by Max Richter, some 12th century vocal music by Hildegard von Bingen, and an elegy to the environment by Marvin Gaye.

PLAYLIST:

MAX RICHTER/VIVALDI: Spring 1 - from the Four Seasons Recomposed [Daniel Hope (violin), Zurich Chamber Orchestra]

VERDI: Va pensiero - Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (from Nabucco) [Chorus and Orchestra of Royal Opera House, London, Bernard Haitink (cond)]

MARVIN GAYE: Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

ELGAR - Cello Concerto in E minor, op.85 - 1st mvt [Sheku Kanneh Mason (cello), London Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle (cond)]

PETER GABRIEL: The Book of Love

WILLIAM MATHIAS: Zodiac Trio, op.70 - 1st mvt ‘Pisces' [Dallas Triptych Players]

HILDEGARD von BINGEN: Spiritus Sanctus Vivificans [Armonico Consort, Christopher Monks (dir)

ALICE SMITH: Wednesday's Child

Jess meets up with artist and producer Love Ssega to swap some of their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Bernstein - West Side Story: Overture [Leonard Bernstein, West Side Story Orchestra, Johnny Green]

Omara Portuondo - La sitiera (Rafael Lopez)

Mark Guiliana - Bud

Schubert - 4 Impromptus Op.142, D.935: No.4 in F minor: Allegro scherzando [Andras Schiff, piano]

Faure - Cantique de Jean Racine [City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, BBC Philharmonic, Yan Pascal Tortelier]

Paul Simon - Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes

Hans Zimmer - Matera from 'No Time To Die

Handel - Theodora - oratorio in 3 acts: Act 1 sc.4; As with rosy steps the morn [Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (mezzo-soprano), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Harry Bicket]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's Bafta awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Lucy share music by Smetana and Sondheim, Tansy Davis and Kurt Weill.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Cinderella-Suite Nr. 1, Op. 107, VIII. Midnight

Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra, Theodore Kuchar

Edmund Finnis - Preludes I and II for Solo Cello

Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello)

Disasterpeace - Adventure from FEZ

Debussy - Reverie

Jean Yves Thibaudet (piano)

Lady Maisery - Birdsong

Colin Stetson - Nature is Timeless

Arnold Schoenberg - Verkl䀀rte Nacht, Op. 4: I. Sehr langsam

Juilliard String Quartet, Yo-Yo Ma

Clara Schumann - Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 17: III. Andante

Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), Pablo Ferrandez (cello), Lambert Orkis (piano)

Jess Gillam chats to trumpeter Lucy Humphris about the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Handel - Keyboard Suite No 1 (Set II) in B-flat Major, HWV 434 (trans. Wilhelm Kempff) - Roberto Cominati (piano)

Schumann - Szenen aus Goethes Faust , WoO 3. Pt. VII Hier ist die Aussicht frei - Christian Gerhaher and BRSO

Nino Rota - Trio for Flute, Violin and Piano; I. Allegro ma non troppo - Daishin Kashimoto (violin), Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Eric Le Sage (piano)

Esperanza Spalding - Lest We Forget (blood)

Charles-Valentin Alkan - 13 Prieres, Op. 64; No. 11. Andantino - Olivier Latry (organ)

Portico Quartet - Youth

Schubert - Piano Trio No. 2 E-Flat Major Op. 100 II. Andante (Trio Wanderer)

Jess Gillam and harpist Magdalena Hoffman share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Gershwin - Walking the dog (Promenade) from Shall we Dance [Los Angeles Philharmonic, Michael Tilson Thomas]

John Bennet - Weep, O Mine Eyes [Attacca Quartet]

Nick Cave - Push The Sky Away

Hannah Peel - Emergence In Nature

Huw Watkins - Flute Concerto; III. Allegro Molto [Adam Walker (flute), Halle, Ryan Wigglesworth]

Queen - Don't Stop Me Now

Korngold - Violin Concerto in D major, Op 35; I. Moderato nobile [Nicola Benedetti, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Karabits]

Vivaldi / Max Richter - Recomposed, Vivaldi The Four Seasons; Spring 3 [Daniel Hope (violin), Konzerthaus Kammerorchester Berlin, Andr退 de Ridder]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam is joined by celebrated British conductor Mark Wigglesworth, who is Chief Conductor of both Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Mark chooses Bach arranged for voices, Frank Bridge, Andre Previn playing jazz and some triumphant Wagner. Jess picks Shostakovich, Laura Marling and Telemann.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3'.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the conductor Mark Wigglesworth.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the conductor Mark Wigglesworth, including tracks by Frank Bridge, Laura Marling, Shostakovich and Wagner.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam meets clarinettist Martin Fröst to swap some of their favourite music and share tales from the concert stage. Martin Fröst is a Swedish clarinettist and conductor celebrated for his virtuosic technique, boundary-pushing performances and love for collaborations across genres. Martin brings along music by Schubert and Brahms as well as Wynton Marsalis and Giora Feidman. Jess's choices range from Scarlatti to Dusty Springfield and there's some Hannah Peel in there too.

Jess Gillam meets clarinettist Martin Fr\u00f6st to swap some of their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam meets clarinettist Martin Fröst to swap some of their favourite music including Schubert, Vivaldi, Wynton Marsalis and Dusty Springfield.

[LISTEN NOW]

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's Bafta awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Martin choose Glinka, Peter Gabriel, Richter and Karajan conducting Tchaikovsky.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Today we played...

George Walker - Lyric for Strings (London Symphony Orchestra, Paul Freeman)

Natureboy Flako - Gelis

Caroline Shaw - Its Motion Keeps (Caroline Shaw, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Dianne Berkun Menaker)

Fr退d退ric Chopin - Nocturne No. 19 in E minor, Op. 72 No. 1 (Arthur Rubinstein)

Dusty Springfield - The Look of Love

John Tavener - Funeral Canticle (The Academy of Ancient Music, Paul Goodwin)

Radiohead - Codex

B退la Bart　k - Piano Concerto No. 3, BB 127, Sz. 119, 2nd mvt - Andante Religioso (G退za Anda, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay)

Jess Gillam talks to composer Martin Kohlstedt about the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Martynas share music by Mozart, Mahler, Bjork and Parov Stelar.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

This week we listened to...

Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy) - Kirov Orchestra, Valery Gergiev

James MacMillan: O Radiant Dawn - The Sixteen

Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question - Orchestra of St. Luke's, John Adams

Salsa Celtica: El Agua de la Vida

Beethoven: Sonata No 14 in C-sharp minor, Op 27 No 2, ‘Moonlight'; I. Adagio sostenuto - Arthur Rubinstein (piano)

Tobias Brostr怀m: Dream Variations: III. D退j

They settle in for a listening party of the music they love, including an epic Bruckner scherzo, joyous Irish folk by Kan, haunting new music by Aleksander Debicz and something from the father of Ugandan pop Elly Wamala.

Plus Jess plays some of the best music to take you into Saturday evening.

Trumpeter Matilda Lloyd joins Jess to swap favourite tracks and chat about her life.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Trumpeter Matilda Lloyd joins Jess to talk about her life in music and swap some of their favourite tracks, from Bruckner and Coleridge-Taylor to Charlie Chaplin and Elly Wamala

Jess is joined by trumpeter Matilda Lloyd to swap some of their favourite music

Matthew's career as a cellist has seen him straddle any number of different genres and continents. He's just as at home in front of an orchestra as he is improvising in a nightclub, playing chamber music with his wife – the violinist Viktoria Mullova - or going solo and combining his cello with electronics.

Their playlist today is suitably eclectic - Matthew brings a taste of Brazil from the singer Elza Soares and legendary songwriter Jobim, a lament on the duduk and reminisces his first childhood experience of classical music via the music of Beethoven. Jess has Tchaikovsky ballet music bursting with tunes, some sunshine by Marianna Martines and mandolin player Avi Avital and a beautiful piece of Junk by Paul McCartney.

ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM: Agua de Beber [Gonzalo Rubalcaba (piano)]

TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake – Act 4 finale [London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn (conductor)]

ELZA SOARES: Flores Horizontais

MANUEL DE FALLA: No. 4 Jota from Canciones populares españolas [Avi Avital (mandolin)]

DJIVAN GASPARYAN: 7 December 1988 [Djivan Gasparyan (duduk/voice)]

MARIANNA MARTINES: Overture in C major – 1st mvt [La Floridiana]

PAUL MCARTNEY: Junk

BEETHOVEN: Symphony no 6 (Pastoral) – 1st mvt “Erwachen heiterer -  ? [Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Paavo Jarvi (conductor)]

Jess Gillam and cellist Matthew Barley swap some of their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and cellist Matthew Barley swap the music they love. With tracks by Elza Soares, Marianna Martines, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Paul McCartney

Jess Gillam chats to versatile violinist Max Baillie about the music they love, with tracks by Marianne Martines, Ligeti, Gwigwi Mrwebi, Debussy and Tchaikovsky.

Max Baillie is considered to be one of the most creative and innovative violinists around, in demand as both chamber musician and orchestral leader across a variety of genres. He has worked with a diverse range of artists including Steve Reich, Bjork, John Williams, Abel Selaocoe, and Bobby McFerrin. He is a member of the VRI ensemble and the Lodestar Trio with Scandinavian folk players Erik Rydvall and Olav Mjelva exploring the boundaries between folk and baroque.

Jess Gillam chats to versatile violinist Max Baillie about the music they both love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam chats to versatile violinist Max Baillie about the music they both love, with tracks by Marianne Martines, Ligeti, Gwigwi Mrwebi, Debussy and Tchaikovsky.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3; 1st mvt (Martha Argerich, Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado)

Monteverdi - Lamento della Ninfa (Anna Prohaska, Arcangelo)

Bartok - 6 Romanian Dances (Avi Avital, Pottsdam Chamber Academy)

Elena Tonra (arr. Josephine Stephenson) - The Dazzler (Ex:Re, Josephine Stephenson, 12 Ensemble)

Haydn - String Quartet in C major Op.33 No.3 `The Bird`; 3rd mvt (London Haydn Quartet)

Cosmo Sheldrake - Come Along (from The Much Much How How and I)

Britten - 6 Metamorphoses after Ovid (Francois Leleux, oboe)

Herbie Hancock - Dolphin Dance (from Dedication)

With music by Monteverdi, Haydn, Cosmo Sheldrake and Herbie Hancock.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

John Adams - Shaker Loops: i. Shaking and Trembling [Bournemouth SO/Marin Alsop (conductor)]

Toufic Farroukh - Elhob ?!

Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

JS Bach - Fuga in G minor, BWV1000 [Yasunori Imamura (lute)]

Philip Glass - Violin Concerto, 2nd mvt [Gidon Kremer (violin), Vienna Philharmonic/Christoph von Dohnanyi (conductor)]

Hooverphonic - 2 Wicky

Dvorak - Symphony no.9 'From the New World' - 2nd mvt [Vienna Philharmonic/Herbert von Karajan (conductor)]

Morten Schantz - Godspeed

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess's guest this week is guitarist MILOŠ. One of the world's most successful classical guitarists, MILOŠ's musical life encompasses not only championing great guitar works, but also reimagining other music he loves onto the guitar and collaborating with musicians from all over the musical spectrum... including a saxophonist called Jess Gillam!

MILOŠ and Jess settle in for a listening party of the music they love, including a transcendental choral piece by Edward Bairstow, the full force of Dvorak's New World Symphony, Philip Glass played on the harp and a Bob Dylan classic reimagined by Chris Thile and Brad Mehldau.

Plus Jess plays some of the best music to take you into Saturday evening.

Jess talks and swaps favourite music with the guitarist MILO\u0160.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess and guitarist MILOŠ swap some of the music they love the most, including works by Dvorak and Vivaldi, Philip Glass reimagined for the harp and a Bob Dylan tune.

[LISTEN NOW]

Milos and Jess settle in for a listening party of the music they love, including a transcendental choral piece by Edward Bairstow, the full force of Dvorak's New World Symphony, Philip Glass played on the harp and a Bob Dylan classic reimagined by Chris Thile and Brad Mehldau.

Plus, Jess plays some of the best music to take you into Saturday evening.

Jess talks and swaps favourite music with the guitarist Milos.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess is joined by the guitarist Milos to swap some of the music they love the most, including works by Dvorak and Vivaldi, Philip Glass reimagined for the harp and Bob Dylan.

Jess's guest this week is guitarist MILOŠ. One of the world's most successful classical guitarists, MILOŠ's musical life encompasses not only championing great guitar works, but also reimagining other music he loves onto the guitar and collaborating with musicians from all over the musical spectrum... including a saxophonist called Jess Gillam!

MILOŠ and Jess settle in for a listening party of the music they love, including a transcendental choral piece by Edward Bairstow, the full force of Dvorak's New World Symphony, Philip Glass played on the harp and a Bob Dylan classic reimagined by Chris Thile and Brad Mehldau.

Jess talks and swaps favourite music with the guitarist MILO\u0160.

Jess and guitarist MILOŠ swap some of the music they love the most, including works by Dvorak and Vivaldi, Philip Glass reimagined for the harp and a Bob Dylan tune.

Today we listened to...

Isaac Albeniz - Suite espanola, Op. 47; No. 5 Asturias (played by John Williams)

Bjork - Vokuro

Nicola Porpora - Polifemo, Act 3: Alto Giove (sung by Philippe Jaroussky)

Prokofiev - Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67 (narrated by David Bowie)

Vincente Amigo - Callej　n de la luna (played by Zs　fia Boros)

Sibelius - Impromptu in B minor, Op. 5 No.5 (played by Leif Ove Andsnes)

Melody Gardot - Your Heart is as Black as Night

Camille Saint-Saens - Danse macabre

Jess and Milo\u0161 Karadagli\u0107 share some of their favourite tracks.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and pianist Mishka Rushdie Momen share their favourite music.

This week Jess Gillam is joined by Mishka Rushdie Momen, the adventurous pianist whose achievements include taking an album of Tudor keyboard works to the top of the classical charts. She brings along some of her favourite music, including Harold Bauer playing Schubert, a Mozart opera, and a Bob Dylan outtake. Jess provides some Ella Fitzgerald, and a recent discovery by composer Dmitry Kabalevsky.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess swaps favourite music with singer-songwriter and co-founder of the Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant.

The Pet Shop Boys have sold over 100 million pop records, but Neil also has a lifelong love of classical music. He played the cello as a child and grew up around church music, and he tells Jess how this influenced the Pet Shop Boys songs - whether that's pure vocal lines of Hildegard von Bingen or the dense harmony of Shostakovich.

He brings with him music by Hildegard, a cantata by JS Bach, Lotte Lenya singing about September and a classic Miles Davis recording. While Jess has a classic Otis Redding cover, Shostakovich's Fifth symphony and a gorgeous slow movement by Prokofiev.

To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?.

Jess swaps favourite music with singer songwriter Neil Tennant.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Pet Shop Boys have sold over 100million pop records, but Neil also has a lifelong love of classical music, he played the cello as a child and grew up around church music, and he tells Jess how this influenced Pet Shop Boys songs - whether that's pure vocal lines of Hildegard von Bingen or the dense harmony of Shostakovich.

He brings with him music by Hildegard, a cantata by JS Bach, Lotte Lenya singing about September and a classic Miles Davis recording. While Jess has a classic Otis Redding cover, Shostakovich's Fifth symphony and a gorgeous slow movement by Prokofiev.

Jess swaps favourite music with singer-songwriter Neil Tennant.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Felix Mendelssohn – Octet in E flat major, IV. Presto [Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble]

Pino Palladino & Blake Mills – Ekute

Francis Poulenc – Figure humaine, VIII. Liberte [Tenebrae, Nigel Short]

Benjamin Britten - The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra [London Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Britten]

Taylor Swift – The Lakes

Sibelius - Lieder No. 4 Op 37 - Was it a Dream [Kari Lövaas, Berliner Symphoniker, Eduardo Marturet]

Jacob Collier / Henry Mancini – Moon River

Carl Nielsen - Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 (FS76) 'The Inextinguishable'; 1. Allegro [Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Fabio Luisi]

Revised repeat.

Jess Gillam and conductor Nicholas Collon swap some of their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and the conductor Nicholas Collon share their favourite tunes, with music by Jacob Collier, Poulenc, Mendelssohn, Sibelius, Pino Palladino and Taylor Swift.

Jess Gillam and conductor Nicholas Collon share their favourite tunes, with music by Jacob Collier, Poulenc, Mendelssohn, Sibelius, Pino Palladino and Taylor Swift.

Playlist:

Trad. Jingle Bells - Ella Fitzgerald

Trad. arr. Ola Gjeilo - The Coventry Carol (Choir of Royal Holloway)

Yma Sumac - Malambo No.1

Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker: Overture & Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy (Mariinsky Orchestra, Valery Gergiev conductor)

R Strauss - Weihnachtsgefuhl (Edita Gruberova)

Vivaldi - Concerto No.4 in F minor RV297 ‘Winter' (Henning Kraggerud violin, Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra)

Mervyn Warren - Joyful, Joyful (Pentatonix)

Handel - Messiah, Part 1: Comfort ye, my people; Every valley (Jon Vickers tenor, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham conductor)

Joni Mitchell - River

Jess Gillam and tenor Nicky Spence share their favourite Christmas music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the Italian-Turkish conductor Nil Venditti, who is currently the Principal Guest Conductor of Royal Northen Sinfonia and the Chief conductor of the Cemal Reşit Rey Orchestra in Turkey. Nil's picks include tracks by Dvořák, Puccini and Melody Gardot, whilst Jess chooses music from Bach, Giovanni Sollima and Lankum.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the Italian-Turkish conductor Nil Venditti, including tracks by Puccini, Giovanni Sollima, Lankum and Melody Gardot.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 21, in C Major, K. 467; II. Andante [Mitsuko Uchida (piano), English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate]

Alex Baranowski - Constellations

Lizzo - Good as Hell

Pauline Oliveros - The Beauty of Sorrow [extract]

Jordan Rakei - Brace

Tchaikovsky - None but the Lonely Heart, Op. 6, TH 93, No. 6 [Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone), Ivari Ilja (piano)]

Abdullah Ibrahim - Maraba Blue

Mahler - Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major - ‘Symphony of a Thousand' Part 2: Finale [Leonard Bernstein, The London Symphony Orchestra, Leeds Festival Chorus]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess and Olivia's musical picks range from Bartók reimagined for the mandolin, to the Miles Davis Quintet, via a fantasia by Purcell, maximalist minimalism from Louis Andriessen, and the perfect love song from Joni Mitchell.

Plus Jess plays some of the best music to take you into Saturday evening.

Jess is joined by folk singer-songwriter Olivia Chaney to swap their favourite tracks.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess is joined by folk singer-songwriter Olivia Chaney to swap some of their favourite tracks, including music by Joni Mitchell, Bartók, Louis Andriessen and Sufjan Stevens.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, she is joined by another young musician to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Ollie's tracks include Dvorak, Quincy Jones and Nadia Boulanger.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet Suite - Montagues and the Capulets (Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Riccardo Muti)

Judith Bingham - The Drowned Lovers (Tenebrae, Martha McLorinan, Nigel Short)

Sam Cooke - A Change is gonna come

Copland: Appalachian Spring (Orpheus Chamber Orchestra)

Rebecca Clarke - Lullaby (Helen Callus - viola, Robert McDonald - piano)

Kabantu – Ulidzile!

Samuel Coleridge Taylor - Petite suite de concert; III. Un sonnet d'amour (Chicago Sinfonietta, Paul Freeman)

JS Bach - St John Passion; Chorus: 'Herr, Unser Herrscher' (Polyphony, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Stephen Layton)

Jess Gillam meets composer Owain Park to share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Specially for Satie-Day, as Radio 3 marks 100 years since the death of the French composer, Jess Gillam is joined by French pianist and Satie specialist Pascal Rogé, to share some of the music they love.

Pascal has been one of the greatest interpreters of French piano music for the last 50 years - he's in demand across the world for his performances of Debussy, Ravel and particularly Satie, a composer he's recorded every note he wrote for the piano. Pascal chats to Jess about his life in music and some of the performers and live concerts that have made the biggest impression on him - from a intimate gig by Oscar Peterson to hearing the unforgettable voice of Edith Piaf as a child, plus tracks by Glenn Gould and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.

Meanwhile Jess finds the epic in the orchestra with music by Beethoven and Carl Nielsen and, given we're in France, brings along some 'Fleurs' courtesy of Minnie Riperton.

A special edition for Satie-Day, Jess Gillam is joined by French pianist Pascal Roge.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

A special edition for Satie-Day, Jess Gillam is joined by French pianist and Satie specialist, Pascal Rogé. With music by Edith Piaf, Beethoven, Strauss and Minnie Riperton.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with pianist Paul Lewis.

Pianist Paul Lewis is one of the leading musicians of his generation and one of the greatest pianists the UK has ever seen and heard. His recordings of all the Beethoven and Schubert piano music became instant classics and he's in high demand across the world for his sensitive interpretations and incredible musicianship. He joins Jess to share some of the music he holds most dear away from the composers he best known for playing - including tracks by bassist Esperanza Spalding, a concerto by Copland and there's even room for a little prog rock from Yes too. Plus Jess brings some Korngold film music, a luscious bit of Rameau and a Walker Brothers classic.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with pianist Paul Lewis, including tracks by Esperanza Spalding, The Walker Brothers, Rameau, Korngold and Aaron Copland.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Heitor Villa-Lobos - Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, W.424; IV. Danza [Michael Tilson Thomas, New World Symphony]

Eddie Sauter / Stan Getz - I'm Late, I'm Late

Beethoven - Bagatelles, Op. 33: V. Allegro, ma non troppo [Cristian Budu]

Scott Walker - It's Raining Today

Isaac Albeniz - Suite espanola no. 1, Op.47; III. Sevilla [Julian Bream]

John Adams - Saxophone Concerto; II. Molto vivo: a hard, driving pulse [Timothy McAllister (sax), St Louis Symphony, David Robertson]

Elis Regina & Ant䀀nio Carlos Jobim - @guas de mar瀀o

Johann Sebastian Bach - O Jesu Christ, mein's Lebens Licht Motet, BWV 118 [English Baroque Soloists, The Monteverdi Choir, John Eliot Gardiner]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with the composer Rachel Portman.

Academy Award-winning composer Rachel Portman joins Jess to share some of her favourite music, on the same day her new work ‘The Gathering Tree' receives its world premiere at the BBC Proms. Rachel's wide-ranging music choices include Handel, Steve Reich and Joni Mitchell. Jess has music from Tchaikovsky, the mysterious Italian baroque composer Bernardo Storace, and American saxophonist Eddie Barbash.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and violinist Ray Chen share some the music they love. With music including Khachaturian, Piazzolla, Puccini and Dolly Parton plus two very different takes on Vivaldi's Four Seasons and music played entirely on double bass.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play This Classical Life

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and violinist Ray Chen share some the music they love. With music from Khachaturian to Dolly Parton and two very different takes on the Four Seasons.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam talks to a guest about their classical life.

Playlist:

Müller/Makaroff/Solal: Santa Maria del Buen Ayre (Gotan Project)

Marius Neset: Manmade - Saxophone Concerto: Mvt II Edison (Marius Neset, saxophone, Bergen Phliharmonic, Edward Gardner, conductor)

Claude Debussy: Clair de Lune (Khatia Buniatishvili, piano)

Arvo P䀀rt (arr. Eduard Wesly) : Summa for reed quintet (Calefax Reed Quintet)

Louis Moreau Gottschalk: Souvenirs d'Andalousie - Op.22 (Alan Marks, piano)

Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543:1 - Prelude (Karl Richter, organ)

Josh Tillman: Chlo뀀 (Father John Misty)

Andrew John Hozier-Byrne: Nina Cried Power (Hozier ft. Mavis Staples)

With music by Arvo P\u00e4rt, Debussy, Gottschalk and Gotan Project.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Philip Glass – Aguas da Amazonia - Madeira River [Uakti]

Abel Selaocoe – Voices of Bantu

Hildur Guðnadóttir - For Petra [London Contemporary Orchestra, Robert Ames]

Tchaikovsky – The Tempest, Op. 18; VI. Andante non tanto [BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Alpesh Chauhan]

Makaya McCraven – In These Times

Camille Saint-Saens – Le lever de la lune

Pauline Oliveros / Stuart Dempster / Panaiotis - Suiren

J.S. Bach – Aria from Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068 'Air on a G String' (Arr. Leopold Stokowski) [BBC Philharmonic, Matthias Bamert]

Jess Gillam swaps music with conductor Robert Ames.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Here's what we listened to today...

Hindemith - Ludus Tonalis (Alena Cherny)

Elton John - Bennie and the Jets

Anna Clyne - Night Ferry (Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Ricardo Muti)

Poulenc- Les Chemins de l'amour FP 106 (Jessye Norman, Dalton Balwdwin)

Paganini - 24 Caprices Op.1 No. 2 in B minor (Itzhak Perlman)

Shostakovich - String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110: Allegro molto (Borodin Quartet )

JS Bach - Prelude and Fugue in A Major BWV 864 from the Well-Tempered Clavier (Trevor Pinnock)

Kamasi Washington - Final Thought

Jess Gillam and Latvian violinist Roberts Balanas share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with baritone and composer Roderick Williams.

Roderick Williams is one of Britain's best-known singers, appearing in many opera productions, and on countless recordings. He also sang at the coronation of King Charles III. On This Classical Life, he joins Jess Gillam to talk about his life and career, which also encompasses his work as a composer, and he brings along some of his favourite music to play, including tracks by French organist and composer Olivier Messiaen, British composer Eleanor Alberga, and American singer songwriter Michael McDonald. Jess, meanwhile, has music by Duke Ellington and Rachmaninov.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with baritone and composer Roderick Williams, including tracks by Olivier Messiaen, Duke Ellington, and Michael McDonald.

[LISTEN NOW]

Today we played:

Vivaldi – Orlando finto pazzo, RV 727; ‘Se in ogni guardo' (Philippe Jaroussky, Ensemble Matheus, Jean-Christophe Spinosi)

Mahler - Totenfeier (OAE, Vladimir Jurowski)

Miles Davis/Bill Evans - Blue in Green (Miles Davis, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb)

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

Francaix - Petit Quartour 1. Gaguenardise (John Harle, Glenn Martin, David Roach, Andrew Findon)

Samthing Soweto (feat. Mzansi Youth Choir) – The Danko! Medley

Chopin - Nocturne for piano (Op.posth) in C sharp minor [1830] (Vladimir Ashkenazy)

Mozart - String quartet No.19 K465 “Dissonance ?; 1. Adagio – Allegro (Emerson String Quartet)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam's guest this week is the flautist Roy Amotz. A versatile musician, based in Germany, Roy is principal flautist in the Verbier Chamber Orchestra, and a key member of the innovative and eclectic Geneva Camerata. He has also premiered many works written specially for him, and created the hit production ‘Fantasies', which combines musical improvisation and cooking. His music choices include Bansuri great Hariprasad Chaurasia, pianist Martha Argerich, and Madonna. Jess has music from the Kronos Quartet, Vivaldi, and the Thierry Maillard Big Band.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?.

Jess Gillam and flautist Roy Amotz share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and flautist Roy Amotz share the music they love, including music by Vivaldi, the Kronos Quartet and Madonna.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with soprano Ruby Hughes, who has performed on many of the world's major stages and has premiered new works by Helen.

Grime, Deborah Pritchard, Judith Weir, Errolyn Wallen, and many others. Ruby's musical picks include pieces by Bach, Britten, and Dave Okumu, whilst Jess chooses music by Sibelius, Paule Maurice, and Elizeth Cardoso.

To listen on most smart speakers just say, 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3'.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with soprano Ruby Hughes, including tracks by Errollyn Wallen, Sibelius and Dave Okumu.

[LISTEN NOW]

This week Jess Gillam is joined by the composer and multi-disciplinary artist Rushil Ranjan, whose work combines Sufi and classical influences. He is a Collaborative Artist of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Partner at Manchester Camerata, and has composed for BAFTA-nominated films and award-winning dance productions. His picks include music by Nitin Sawhney and Hozier, and Jess's choices include tracks by Miklós Rózsa and Laura Misch.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?.

Jess Gillam and composer Rushil Ranjan share their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Debussy - Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune (Orchestra National de la RTF, Constantin Silvestri)

Joby Talbot - Once around the sun; January - A Yellow Disc Rising from the Sea

Aruna Sairam - Tillana, Kalinga Nardhanam

Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy

Leos Janacek - Taras Bulba; 1. The Death of Andri (Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Charles Mackerras)

Nina Simone - Strange Fruit

Caroline Shaw - Entr'acte (Attacca Quartet)

Beethoven - Emperor Piano Concerto no.5; II. adagio (Murray Perahia, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Debussy - Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune (Orchestra National de la RTF, Constantin Silvestri)

Joby Talbot - Once around the sun; January - A Yellow Disc Rising from the Sea

Aruna Sairam – Tillana, Kalinga Nardhanam

Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy

Leos Janacek – Taras Bulba; 1. The Death of Andri (Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Charles Mackerras)

Nina Simone – Strange Fruit

Caroline Shaw – Entr'acte (Attacca Quartet)

Beethoven - Emperor Piano Concerto no.5; II. adagio (Murray Perahia, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink)

Revised rpt

Jess Gillam is joined by conductor Ryan Bancroft to share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam is joined by conductor Ryan Bancroft to share the music they love, with music by Debussy, Aruna Sairam, Caroline Shaw, Joby Talbot and Massive Attack.

Sam and Jess settle in for a listening party of the music they love, including Ornette Coleman and friends having a street party, Ennio Morricone in full blown cinematic mode, Sam shares a revelatory recording by the Georgian voices in The Rustavi Choir and Jess continues her bid to be reincarnated in the 1960s with a Dusty Springfield classic.

Playlist:

TRAD GEORGIAN: Shen Khar venakhi - Kartli Kakhetia (The Rustavi Choir)

MORRICONE: Cinema Paradiso - Theme

ORNETTE COLEMAN: Friends and Neighbours (Vocal version) [Live]

PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet - Dance of the Knights (Cleveland Orchestra, Lorin Maazel (conductor))

SAILEOG Ǹ CHEANNABH@IN: Bean a' Leanna

EDMUND ANDERSON/TED GROUYA: Flamingo (Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn (piano))

JANACEK: Kreutzer Sonata arr. for Strings - 1st mvt Adagio (Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti (violin/director))

DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: Anyone Who Had a Heart

Jess is joined by singer Sam Amidon for a listening party.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, she is joined by another young musician to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Sam share music by Debussy, Dowland, Bowie and Berlioz two ways.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Benjamin Britten - 4 sea interludes - Dawn (Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi)

The Platters - Smoke gets in your eyes

Pablo Casals - El Cant Dels Ocells (Song of the Birds) (Pablo Casals (cello), Prades Festival Orchestra)

Everything Everything - Fever Dream

Gavin Bryars - Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet

Rimsky Korsakov - Trombone Concerto (Christian Lindberg, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Osmo Vanska)

Feed the Birds from Mary Poppins

Ravel - Pavane pour une infant (Bertrand Chamayou - paino)

Jess Gillam and bassist Sam Becker share some more of the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Stravinsky - Circus polka for a Young Elephant orchestra

The Walker Brothers - In My Room

Dvorak - 4 Romantic pieces, B150; 1. Allegro moderato

Nubya Garcia - Source

John Williams - Theme from Schindler's List

Stravinsky - The Rake's Progress; Anne Truelove aria 'No word from Tom.

Sharon Van Etten - The End Of the World

Johann Christoph Bach - Ach, da߀ ich Wassers g'nug hate

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Schnittke - Concerto Grosso No. 1: V. Rondo-Agitato

Gervaise - Pavane, Gaillarde & Branle de Champagne

black midi – Slow

Lili Boulanger – D'un matin de printemps

Arvo Pärt - The Beatitudes

Willie Nelson – Hello Walls

J. S. Bach - Gamba Sonata in G Major, BWV 1027: III. Andante

Pablo Casals – Song of the Birds

Jess Gillam and cellist Santiago Ca\u00f1\u00f3n-Valencia share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam is joined by Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke to share some of the tracks they love and chat all things music. Between them they share Reynaldo Hahn's A Chloris, Martin Fröst's unique take on Scarlatti, Rachmaninoff in the hands of Martha Argerich, plus the forces of nature that are Colin Stetson and Beyoncé.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam is joined by Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke to share some of the tracks they love and chat all things music. Between them they share Reynaldo Hahn's A Chloris, Martin Fröst's unique take on Scarlatti, Rachmaninoff in the hands of Martha Argerich, plus the forces of nature that are Colin Stetson and Beyoncé.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Witold Lutos?awski - Symphony No 4 (Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Antoni Wit)

Francis Poulenc - Flute Sonata FP 164 (1st mvt) (Emmanuel Pahud / ɀric Le Sage)

The Prodigy - Out of Space

Antonio Vivaldi - The Four Seasons: Winter (1st mvt) (Pekka Kuusisto / Virtuosi di Kuhmo)

Gy怀rgy Ligeti - Sonata for Solo Cello (1st mvt) (Mikl　s Per退nyi)

Henriette Reni退 - Harp Concerto in C minor (1st mvt) (Emmanuel Ceysson / Orchestre R退gional Avignon Provence / Samuel Jean)

Brahms - Piano Concerto No 2 in B flat, Op 83 (1st mvt) (Krystian Zimerman / Wiener Philharmoniker / Leonard Bernstein)

Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Rossini - William Tell - Overture [Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan]

Mercedes Sosa - Alfonsina y el mar

Ryuichi Sakamoto - Amore

Vangelis - Theme from Antarctica

J　hann J　hannsson - Flight from the City

Villa-Lobos - Bachianas Brasileiras No.1. Introduction

Lianne La Havas - Bittersweet

Elgar - Variations on an original theme, Op 36 `Enigma`: 9 Nimrod (Adagio) [BBC Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Nicknamed 'the Hendrix of the Kora', Seckou has worked with a wide variety of people over the years including Damon Albarn and the Africa Express; Welsh harpist Catrin Finch; Cuban pianist Omar Sosa and the BBC Concert Orchestra. This week Seckou shares with Jess his love for Albinoni's Adagio, the music of Fela Sowande, a beautiful Spell Song and the exciting new sounds of Faada Freddy, whilst Jess is offering up some classic Ella Fitzgerald, Strum by Jessie Montgomery and music by Saint-Saens and Mussorgsky.

Jess Gillam is joined by kora player Seckou Keita to swap some of their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam is joined by kora player Seckou Keita to swap some of their favourite music, including Fela Sowande, Ella Fitzgerald, Saint-Saens, Mussorgsky and Faada Freddy.

~This Classical Life is a show and podcast from BBC Radio 3. Every episode, saxophonist Jess Gillam is joined by a special guest to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles and genres.

Tracklist:

Gustav Holst: Mars, the Bringer of War from The Planets

Spiritualized: Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space

Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F major (2nd mvt)

Snarky Puppy: Shofukan

Crist　bal de Morales/The Hilliard Ensemble/Jan Garbarek: Parce mihi Domine

John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine

Wings: Live And Let Die

Igor Stravinsky: Firebird Suite (finale)

Doctor Who composer Segun is in the hot seat with tracks by Holst and Snarky Puppy.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Sehyogue's Playlist:

SHOSTAKOVICH - Symphony No. 5 in D Minor Op. 47: I. Moderato (Royal Concertegabouw Orchestra, Bernard Haiktink)

MOBY - Porcelain

COUPERIN arr. Ades - Les Baricades misterieuses (Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon)

ARETHA FRANKLN - (You make me feel like a) Natural Woman

SECKOU KEITA - Sakiliba

COLERIDGE-TAYLOR - Ballade in A Minor Op. 33: I. Allegro energetico, ma non troppo presto (Chineke! Orchestra, Kalena Bovell

SIMON MOULLIER - Acceptance (Simon Moullier - Vibraphone, Balafon, Percussions, Synths; Dayna Stephens - Saxophone ; Simon Chivallon - Piano; Luca Alemanno - Bass; Jongkuk Kim - Drums)

Jess Gillam talks to percussionist Sehyogue Aulakh.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Alim Qasimov Ensemble and Kronos Quartet - Getme, Getme

Bach - Cello Suite No 2: Prelude

Mozart - Ah Chi Mi Dice Mai (Don Giovanni)

Miles Davis / Gil Evans / George Gershwin - It Ain't Necessarily So (Porgy and Bess)

Kara Karayev- The Seven Beauties Suite (2nd mvt)

Caroline Shaw - Is a Rose: No 1, The Edge

Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No 2 in G minor (4th mvt)

Buena Vista Social Club - El cuarto de Tula

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Merula - Ciacconna and harpsichord improvisation (Il Giardino Armonico)

Kurt Weill arr. Richard Rodney Bennett - It Was Never You (Barbara Thompson, The Medici Quartet)

Dinosaur - Set Free

Sibelius - 5 pieces; no. 1 (Pekka Kuusisto, Heini Karkkainen)

Estrella Morente - La Gazpacha, La Repompa, La Tia Concha

Eddie Sauter - Pan (Stan Getz)

C.P.E. Bach - Cello Concerto in A Major, Wq. 172: II. Largo maestoso (Jean-Guihen Queyras, Ensemble Resonanz, Riccardo Minasi)

Tchaikovsky - Symphony no. 5 (Op. 64) in E minor, 4th mvt; Finale (Andante maestoso) (Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, Evgeny Mravinsky)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Mozart takes us to heavenly plains with his Great Mass, Leroy Anderson plays a typewriter, Max Richter sends us to sleep and we'll hear some heart-wrenching cello playing from Jacqueline du Pr退 in Dvorak's Silent Woods. Plus Jess and Sheku discuss the iconic voices of legends Bob Marley and Nina Simone.

Playlist:

Dvo?ကk - Silent Woods for cello and orchestra, Op. 68 No. 5 (Jacqueline du Pr退 - cello, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim - conductor)

Sam Cooke - Falling in Love

Mozart - Mass in C minor, K427 'Great' - Kyrie (Barbara Bonney - soprano, Berlin Radio Choir, Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado - conductor)

Margaret Bonds - Troubled Water (Samantha Ege - piano)

Leroy Anderson - The Typewriter (Eastman Rochester Pops Orchestra, Frederick Fennell)

Bob Marley & The Wailers - African Herbsman

Max Richter - Dream 1

Nina Simone - I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free (Nina Simone - vocals/piano, Studio Orchestra, Sammy Lowe - conductor)

Jess Gillam and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

MORELENBAUM2 & RYUICHI SAKAMOTO: Sabia

J S BACH ARR. KODALY: Vater unser im Himmelrich, BWV 762 (Mstislav Rostropovich, cello; Herbert Tachezi, organ)

CHOPIN: Polonaise No 7 in A flat, Op 61 (Sviatoslav Richter, piano)

ROBERT DE VISɀE: Sarabande from Suite No 7 in D minor (Thomas Dunford, archlute; Jean Rondeau, harpsichord)

FANNY MENDELSSOHN: Schwanenlied, Op 1 No 1 (Dorothea Craxton, soprano & Babette Dorn, piano + Benjamin Appl, baritone & James Baillieu, piano)

RAVEL: Soupir from 3 Po耀mes de St退phane Mallarm退 (Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano)

DONNY HATHAWAY: A Song for You

BILL EVANS: Emily

Jess Gillam is joined by pianist Shivank Menon to talk about their favourite records.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Here's the music we played today...

Ades - Overture from Powder Her Face, suite for orchestra

Mahler - Symphony No.2 'Resurrection', final movement

Meredith Monk - Ellis Island

Zimmermann - Concerto for Trumpet `Nobody knows de trouble I see`

Parcels - Lightenup

Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5, 4th movement

Beethoven - Piano Sonata No.1, 2nd movement

Anna Meredith - Heal You

Jess Gillam swaps tracks with trumpeter Simon H\u00f6fele.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Stravinksy - Symphony of Psalms, I. Exaudi orationem meam, Domine [Berlin Philharmonic, Berlin Radio Choir, Pierre Boulez]

Caroline Shaw - Plan & Elevation, I. The Ellipse [Attacca Quartet]

Kate Bush - Nocturn

Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude & Fugue in C minor from Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1, No 2 [Vikingur Olafsson]

Pelle Gunmundsen-Holmgreen - New Ground Green [Kronos Quartet, Theatre of Voices, Paul Hillier]

Emitt Rhodes - Somebody Made for Me

Domenico Scarlatti - Keyboard Sonata K69 [Mark Knoop]

Edward Elgar - Enigma variations, Nimrod [BBC Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Tracks we listened to today:

Verdi - La Traviata, Act 1: 'Sempre libera' (Maria Callas)

Philip Glass - Etude no. 2 for piano (Vikingur Olafsson - piano)

Jeff Buckley - Lilac wine

Schubert - Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello Op. 99; II. Andante un poco moso

Handel - Scipione: ‘Scoglio d'immota fronte' (Sandrine Piau)

Nina Simone - Stars (Live at Montreux)

Clara Schumann - Liebst du um Schonheit

Rachmaninov - Symphony No.2, Adagio

Jess and soprano Soraya Mafi share some of their favourite tracks.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Debussy - Dances for Harp and Orchestra, L.103:2. Danse profane [Lavinia Meijer, Amsterdam Sinfonietta]

Ben Webster - When I Fall in Love

Steve Reich - Different Trains: America Before the War [Kronos Quartet]

Amy Beach - 4 Sketches - Dreaming [Ambache Chamber Ensemble]

Scott Joplin - Treemonisha: Act 3: A Real Slow Drag [Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and Singers]

Blanck Mass - Chernobyl

Abel Selaocoe - Qhawe/Hero

Beethoven - Symphony No 7 - 2nd movement [Berlin Philharmonic, Kirill Petrenko]

Saxophonists Jess Gillam and Soweto Kinch share music they both love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

From musical beginnings in a carnival band, to being the first ever saxophone finalist in BBC Young Musician, and appearances at the Last Night of the Proms in 2018 and at this year's BAFTA awards, Jess is one of today's most engaging and charismatic classical performers. Each week on This Classical Life, Jess will be joined by young musicians to swap tracks and share musical discoveries across a wide range of styles, revealing how music shapes their everyday lives.

~This Classical Life is also available as a podcast on BBC Sounds.

Jess and Stephanie share music Poulenc, Rachmaninov, the Beach Boys and Doris Day.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Robert Schumann - Marchenbilder Mvt IV [Nobuko Imai, Martha Argerich (pianos)

Johann Strauss II - Der Fledermaus; Overture [Carlos Kleiber, Bavarian State Opera]

Idjah Hadidjah - Aram Bandung

Steve Reich - Mallet Quartet: iii. Fast [Colin Currie group]

Orlando - Blood Orange

Kurt Weill - September Song [Sydney Bechet]

Morton Feldman - Rothko Chapel 5

Florence Price arr. W.G. Still - Dance in the Canebrakes i. Nimble Feet [Chicago Sinfonietta, Mei-Ann Chen]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps music choices with cellist Sterling Elliott.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

She brought along to the studio the incredible voice of Millie Jackson, one of Ravel's most beautiful pieces for piano and something nostalgic from the soundtrack to the anime Kiki's Delivery Service. Meanwhile Jess chose some banjo virtuosity by Bela Fleck, a homage to Piazzolla by violinist Gidon Kremer and an elegy by Yoshimatsu.

Playlist:

JOE HISAISHI: A Town with an Ocean View

PIAZZOLLA: Soledad [Gidon Kremer (violin)]

RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G - 2nd mvt Adagio [Martha Argerich (piano), Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado (conductor)]

MILLIE JACKSON: If You're Not Back in Love by Monday

BELA FLECK/EDGAR MEYER: The B Tune [B退la Fleck (banjo), Zakir Hussain (table), Edgar Meyer (double bass)]

TAKASHI YOSHIMATSU: And Birds are Still - Op.72 [Manchester Camerata, Sachio Fujioka (conductor)]

COPLAND: Symphony No. 3 - 4th mvt [San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor)]

Jess Gillam and violinist Sumina Studer share some of their favourite music.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps music choices with violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam is joined by conductor Tess Jackson to share the music they love.

Tess Jackson began learning the piano and violin aged six and was inspired to start conducting aged fourteen. She is currently Associate Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra, making her debut at the BBC Proms in 2024. She has worked with a range of top ensembles including City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam is joined by conductor Tess Jackson to share the tracks they love. Between them they have chosen music by Verdi, Janacek, Dorothy Howell, Sidney Bechet and Tom Misch.

Tess Jackson began learning the piano and violin aged six and was inspired to start conducting aged fourteen. She is currently Associate Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra, making her debut at the BBC Proms in 2024. She has worked with a range of top ensembles including City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

To listen on most smart speakers, just say: “Ask BBC Sounds to play This Classical Life. ?

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam is joined by conductor Tess Jackson to share the music they love.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

VASEN: Silverschottis

GIOVANNI SOLIMA: Il bell'Antonio - tema II [Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Kathryn Stott (piano)]

MICHAEL THURBER & THE HUNTERTONES: Gigantic Energy

SAMUEL COLERIDGE TAYLOR: Violin Concerto in G minor, op.80 - 2nd mvt [Elena Urioste (violin), Chineke! Orchestra, Kevin John Edusei (conductor)]

MARTIN HAYES QUARTET: The Boy In the Gap

JEAN LENOIR: Parlez moi d'amour [Lucienne Boyer (singer)]

BEETHOVEN: Symphony no 2 in D major, op.36 4th mvt ‘Allegro molto' [Vienna Philharmonic, Simon Rattle (conductor)

SAUN & STARR: In the Night

Jess Gillam and violinist Tessa Lark swap some of their favourite tracks.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Tracks we played today...

David Popper - Dance of the Elves, Op. 39 - Mstislav Rostropovich (cello) Alexander Dedyukhin (piano)

Joseph Haydn - String Quartet in C major Op 20 No 2; 2nd Movement Capriccio - The London Haydn Quartet

Max Richter - On The Nature Of Daylight

The Beatles - In My Life

Bela Bartok - 3 Hungarian folksongs from the Csik district - Tom Poster (piano)

St退phane Grappelli - How High The Moon

Michael Kiwanuka - Hard to Say Goodbye

Johann Sebastian Bach - Matthauspassion (BWV.244), Part 1; no.1; Kommt, ihr Tochter [chorus] - Monteverdi Choir, London Oratory Junior Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner

Jess Gillam is joined by a musical guest to swap tracks and share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Stravinsky - Rite of Spring - XIV Pt2 le sacrifice: danse sacrale l'Elue [Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti]

Mozart - Die Zauberflote, K.620; Act 2, no.17; Ach, ich fuhl's, es ist verschwunden [Mari Eriksmoen, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Jan Willem de Vriend]

Massive Attack - Teardrop

Ibrahim Maalouf - Una Rosa Blanca

Wilhelm Friedemann Bach- Duet for 2 Flutes in E minor, F. 54 [Patrick Gallois (flute), Kazunori Seo (flute)]

Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, TH 5: Lensky's Aria [Janine Jansen (violin), Antonio Pappano (piano)]

Sigrid - Mirror

Janacek - In The Mists; I. Andante [Leif Ove Andsnes]

Jess Gillam and Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Carlo Gesualdo - Ecce vidimus eum, Responsories from 1st Nocturn (The King's Singers)

Four Tops - Bernadette

Paul Hindemith - Kammermusik Op.24 No.1 for 12 instruments (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly)

Henry Purcell - When I am laid in earth, from Act III of Dido and Aeneas (Joyce DiDonato, Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev)

Tigran Hamasyan - Ancient Observer

Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, Yo-Yo Ma - Your Coffee is a Disaster

Keeno - Nocturne

Giuseppe Verdi - Anvil Chorus, from Il Trovatore (Choir and Orchestra of la Scala, Milan, Riccardo Muti)

Jess Gillam and composer Toby Young talk about the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Keith Jarrett - Book of Ways 4

Igor Stravinsky - Infernal Dance from The Firebird (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Andris Nelsons)

Gustav Mahler - Symphony No 3 in D minor - Part 2 (4th mvt) (Christa Ludwig / New York Philharmonic / Leonard Bernstein)

J.S. Bach - Goldberg Variations BWV 988: Aria (Murray Perahia)

Ross Edwards - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1st mvt) (Dennis Hennig / Queensland Symphony Orchestra / Myer Fredman)

big dog little dog - Panorama

Elton John - Idol

Robert Schumann - Concert Piece for 4 Horns & Orchestra, Op 86 (1st mvt) (Markus Maskuniitty / Martin Sch怀pfer / Kristofer րberg / M　nica

Berenguer Caro / Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra / Sakari Oramo)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess swaps favourite tracks with conductor Tom Fetherstonhaugh.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Tom and Jess load up the This Classical Life jukebox with the music they love, including some glorious Handel performed by Alison Balsom and Iestyn Davies, a twisted orchestral tale by Berlioz, a toe tapper by Ella Fitzgerald and something joyous by Joe Hisaishi from My Neighbour Totoro.

Plus Jess plays some of the best music to take you into Saturday evening.

Jess talks to and swaps favourite music with the pianist Tom Poster

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess is joined by the pianist Tom Poster to swap some of the music they love the most, including Berlioz and Handel, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Hisaishi and a horn concerto by Neruda.

Playlist:

Dvorak - Symphony No.8, 3rd movement (Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra)

Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion (from Toys in the Attic)

Piazzolla - Night Club 1960 (from Histoire du Tango) (Astoria)

Vivaldi - Violin Concerto in A minor (arr. trumpet) (Alison Balsom, Scottish Ensemble)

Mahler - Das Lied von der Erde, 1st movement; Das Trinklied vom jammer der Erde (Jonas Kaufmann, Jonathan Nott, Vienna Philharmonic)

George Walker - Hoopla (A Touch of Glee) (Sinfonia Varsova, Ian Hobson)

Electric Light Orchestra - The Whale (from Out of the Blue)

JS Bach - Fugue in D# minor, BWV 853 (from Well Tempered Clavier Book 1) (Edward Aldwell, piano)

Jess Gillam and pianist Tom Weaver share some of their favourite tracks.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with conductor Vasily Petrenko.

The St Petersburg-born conductor Vasily Petrenko established himself as one of the UK's leading conductors with his highly successful tenure at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Currently he is Music Director of the London-based Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and in this programme he joins Jess to share some of his favourite music, giving a conductor's insight into the big works of Shostakovich and Beethoven, and revealing more eclectic tastes with tracks by Björk and Pink Floyd. Jess, meanwhile, plays Vasily some Vivaldi and Duke Ellington, and music for saxophone and orchestra by the Finnish composer Kalevi Aho.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with conductor Vasily Petrenko, including tracks by Shostakovich, Vivaldi, Duke Ellington and Pink Floyd.

[LISTEN NOW]

Vivi is sharing the crazy time signatures of young jazz piano wizard Jesus Molina, traditional Bulgarian music and a Tchaikovsky waltz in 5/4! Jess is offering up the raw emotion of Anna Clyne, Alison Russell and Vikingur Olaffson playing Kaldal　ns's Ave Maria on an upright piano.

Playlist:

Anna Clyne - Shorthand [The Knights]

Eva Quartet - Kalina Moma

Sigvaldi Kaldal　ns - Ave Maria (arr. Olaffson) [Vikingur Olaffson - piano]

Jesus Molina - Night in Tunisia

CPE Bach - Symphony in D Major [The English Concert, Andrew Manze]

Alison Russell - Nightflyer

Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 (Path退tique); II. Allegro con grazia [Kirill Petrenko, Berlin Philharmonic]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam's guest this week is the musician and record producer Will Gregory, known as one half of the electronic duo Goldfrapp, and more recently for his work with the Will Gregory Moog Ensemble.

Originally a saxophonist, Will played with the likes of Tears for Fears, Peter Gabriel and The Cure, before teaming up with Alison Goldfrapp in 1999 to form their acclaimed electronic duo. He has also composed for television, theatre and the opera stage.

Jess talks to Will about his life as a musician, and they share some of their favourite music, including the soundtrack work of Ennio Morricone, the orchestral pyrotechnics of Berlioz, a song by The Shangri-Las, and, naturally, saxophone, courtesy of Charlie Parker.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and composer/producer Will Gregory share their favourite music, including Berlioz, Ennio Morricone, The Shangri-Las and Charlie Parker.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with the composer William Marsey. William's music is regularly heard across the globe in concerts by orchestras including the LA Philharmonic, the Halle, and Royal Northern Sinfonia. As well as composing, William also runs Listenpony - a London-based concert series, commissioning body and record label - with Freya Waley Cohen and Josephine Stephenson.

Williams chooses music by Sibelius, Anja Garbarek, Tallis and Cocteau Twins, while Jess picks tracks by Bela Fleck, CPE Bach and Brahms.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3'.

Jess Gillam sits down for a winter listening party with the composer, William Marsey.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam sits down for a winter listening party with the composer, William Marsey, including music by Sibelius, Bela Fleck, Tallis and Brahms.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam swaps musical choices with the pianist, composer and broadcaster Alexis Ffrench.

Alexis shares his first musical memories with Jess including a mystical voice calling him to the piano and his thoughts on blending 'classical' with other genres. The playlist includes music by Messiaen, CPE Bach and Ravel as well as Jon Hopkins and A Tribe Called Quest. Jess and Alexis compare notes on Barbara Strozzi and their shared love of Yo-Yo Ma.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and pianist-composer Alexis Ffrench share tracks they love ranging from Messiaen, to Jon Hopkins, Barbara Strozzi and A Tribe Called Quest.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too. This week, Jess meets the pianist Clare Hammond who brings music varying from Johann Sebastian Bach to Mari Boine to Lauryn Hill. There is also Dvorak, Coleman Hawkins and David Bowie. Jess and Clare share early experiences of learning to play their instruments, the differences in recording classical and pop and how to share new repertoire with audiences.

And Jess looks forward to the First Night of the Proms with music by Arvo Pärt.

Jess Gillam shares a listening playlist with the pianist Clare Hammond including music by JS Bach, David Bowie, Dora Pejacevic and Lauryn Hill.

[LISTEN NOW]

Playlist:

Robert Schumann - Piano Quintet in E flat Major, Op.44; I. Allegro brillante (Jerusalem Quartet and Alexander Melnikov)

Woodkid - Iron

Brahms - Symphony no. 3 (Op.90) in F major, 3rd movement; Poco allegretto (Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, Daniel Harding)

Joby Talbot - Ink Dark Moon; III. Allegro vigoroso (Milos, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Ben Gernon)

Stevie Wonder - Ebony Eyes

Bach - Prelude and Fugue in E minor from Book 1 No. 10 BWV 855 (Andrကs Schiff)

Handel - Rinaldo, HWV 7a / Act 2 'Lascia ch'io pianga' (Magdalena Kozena, Venice Baroque Orchestra, conductor Andrea Marcon)

Ferde Grofe - Grand Canyon Suite: Sunset (Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra, Felix Slatkin)

Jess Gillam talks to pianist Zeynep \u00d6zsuca.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with composer Hildur Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess's guest this week is the film composer and cellist Hildur Guðnadóttir

Hildur Guðnadóttir is a multi award-winning Icelandic composer, cellist and singer known for her film scores. In 2019 she won the Oscar for best original score for ‘Joker' and the 2025 London Soundtrack film festival dedicates a special concert to her work.

Jess and Hildur talk about her life in music and swap favourite tracks to listen to, including music by Gorecki, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Dvorak.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with composer Hildur Guðnadóttir including music by Gorecki, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Dvorak.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess's guest this week is the mezzo-soprano and vocalist, Lotte Betts-Dean.

Australian mezzo-soprano and vocalist Lotte Betts-Dean is passionate about performing repertoire that encompasses contemporary music, art song chamber music and non-classical collaborations.

Jess and Lotte talk about her life in music and swap favourite tracks to listen to, including music by Schubert, Cassandra Miller and Joni Mitchell.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with vocalist Lotte Betts-Dean

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with vocalist Lotte Betts-Dean including music by Schubert, Cassandra Miller and Joni Mitchell.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam is joined by violinist Nemanja Radulovic to talk about the music they love and the musical lives they live. They talk Beethoven, concertos, and how music can create connections between people. Nemanja shares his love of Celine Dion, and and Jess brings some meditative music by Shabaka Hutchings. Plus Jess and Nemanja talk about what makes an amazing performer, how they bring you in to their musical world and whether that's a talent musicians are born with.

[LISTEN NOW]

Today we played - .

Copland - Appalachian Spring: Allegro (Leonard Bernstein, New York Phil)

Erroll Garner - Misty (Johnny Mathis)

Pulp - Common People

Verdi - Don Carlos: 'O Carlo, ascolta' from Act IV Scene 2 (Dmitri Hvorostovsky, BBC Welsh SO, Richard Armstrong, recorded at 1989 Cardiff Singer of the World final)

Interpol - Untitled (from Turn on the Bright Lights)

John Rutter - What sweeter music (Choir of King's College Cambridge Stephen Cleobury, Robert Quinney (organ)

Lani Alo - Alo i ou faiva (Lani Alo and Livingston Efu)

Poulenc - Double Piano Concerto in D Minor: III. Finale (Mischa Cheung and Yulia Miloslavaskaya (pianos), Giraud Ensemble Chamber Orchestra, Sergey Simakov)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam's guest this week is baritone Huw Montague Rendall. Together they share some the music they love, with music from Mozart to METRONOMY, and Mahler to Marvin Gaye. Huw talks about growing up in an operatic household, finding his own musical tastes, and how to decompress after a performance.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play This Classical Life

Jess Gillam and baritone Huw Montague Rendall share the music that made them and they love

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and baritone Huw Montague Rendall share the tracks they love, with music by Mozart, METRONOMY, Mahler and Marvin Gaye.

[LISTEN NOW]

Today we played...

Wagner - Gotterdammerung, WWV 86D / Act 3: Fliegt heim, ihr Raben! (Birgit Nilsson, Gottlob Frick, Vienna Philharmonic, Georg Solti)

Ibert - The Deserted House (Peter Katin)

Mercedes Sosa - Gracias A La Vida

Frank Waxman A Place in the Sun - Suite (London Symphony Orchestra, John Williams)

Lankum - The Wild Rover

G怀ran Fr怀st - (Martin Fr怀st, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra)

Deep Listening Band - Lear (Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster, Panaiotis)

The Waterboys - The Whole of the Moon

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

South African soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha was the winner of the Song Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in 2021 and is a current BBC New Generation Artist. She's brought a track from iconic South African artist Miriam Makeba and Maria Callas singing a prayer from Verdi's Otello, and Jess has picked a dance of death from Saint-Saens and jazz from Charlie ‘Bird' Parker.

PLAYLIST:

MAHALIA JACKSON– If I Can Help Somebody

CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS – Danse macabre, Op 40 [Luben Yordandoff (violin), Orchestre de Paris, Daniel Barenboim (cond)]

GIUSEPPE VERDI – Ave Maria (Otello: Act 4) [Maria Callas (sop), Orchestre de la Société Des Concerts Du Conservatoire, Nicola Rescigno (cond)]

HENRY PURCELL – Music for a While (Oedipus, Z 583) [Martin Fröst (clarinet), Sebastien Dube (double bass)]

MIRIAM MAKEBA – The Click Song

JIMMY MCHUGH/DOROTHY FIELDS– Don't Blame Me (Live) [Charlie Parker Quintet]

DOMENICO CIMAROSA – Sonata No 42 in D minor, arr Ólafsson [Víkingur Ólafsson (piano)]

VINCENZO BELLINI – Mira, O Norma (Norma) [Joan Sutherland (sop), Montserrat Caballé (sop), Welsh National Opera Orchestra, Richard Bonynge]

Produced by Rachel Gill

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha share their favourite tracks, including music by Miriam Makeba, Verdi and Saint-Saëns.

Jess Gillam talks to a guest about their classical life.

This we we played...

Debussy -Jardins sous la pluie (Jean-Yves Thibaudet)

Brad Medlhau - When it Rains

Origamibiro - Vitreous detachment

Prokofiev - Violin Concerto No.1 in D Major Op.19: II. Scherzo: Vivacissimo (Hilary Hahn, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Mikko Franc)

Schubert - String Quintet in C Major, D.956; II. Adagio (Quatuor Ebene, Gautier Capucon)

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

John Williams - Hedwig's Theme (London Symphony Orchestra, John Williams)

Radiohead - Reckoner

Jess Gillam and composer Poppy Ackroyd share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Today we played:

Vivaldi - Orlando finto pazzo, RV 727; ‘Se in ogni guardo' (Philippe Jaroussky, Ensemble Matheus, Jean-Christophe Spinosi)

Mahler - Totenfeier (OAE, Vladimir Jurowski)

Miles Davis/Bill Evans - Blue in Green (Miles Davis, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb)

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

Francaix - Petit Quartour 1. Gaguenardise (John Harle, Glenn Martin, David Roach, Andrew Findon)

Samthing Soweto (feat. Mzansi Youth Choir) - The Danko! Medley

Chopin - Nocturne for piano (Op.posth) in C sharp minor [1830] (Vladimir Ashkenazy)

Mozart - String quartet No.19 K465 `Dissonance`; 1. Adagio - Allegro (Emerson String Quartet)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Johann Bernhard Bach - Ouverture from Suite in E Minor (L'Acheron, Francois Joubert-Caillet)

Joby Talbot - Transit of Venus (Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Christopher Austin)

Michel Legrand -Windmills of your mind (Take 6)

Johannes Brahms - Cello sonata no. 1 in E minor Op. 38: 1st mvt Allegor non troppo (Truls Mork , cello; Juhani Lagerspetz, piano)

Ugis Praulins - The Nightingale: Tableau VII ‘The Artificial Bird' (Danish National Vocal Ensemble; Michala Petri, recorder; Stephen Layton, director)

Basement Jaxx - Where's your head at

Antonio Sartorio - Giulio Cesare in Egitto: Aria, Quando voglio (Anna Prohaska, soprano; Il Giardino Armonico; Giovanni Antonini, director)

Maurice Ravel - Concerto in G Major, 1st mvt Allegramente (Martha Argerich, piano; Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana; Jacek Kaspszyk, conductor)

Jess Gillam meets recorder player Tabea Debus to share music they both love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Playlist:

Ella Fitzgerald - Mack the Knife (Live in Berlin)

Debussy - La Damoiselle 退lue (Vikingur Olafsson)

George Lewis - Anthem (Wet Ink Ensemble)

Vaughan Williams - Symphony No 5 in D major (3rd mvt)

Rodriguez - Cause

Poulenc - C'est ainsi que tu es (M退tamorphoses; No.2)

Bart　k - Bluebeard's Castle: Door 6

Charlie Chaplin - Smile (Nat King Cole)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Today we played:

Oscar Peterson - C Jam Blues (Oscar Peterson (Piano), Ray Brown (Double Bass), Ed Thigpen (Drums))

Bernstein - Rumble From West Side Story (Studio Orchestra, Johhny Green)

Bach - Ich Habe Genug Bwv 82 No.1 : Aria ‘Ich Habe Genug‘ (Hans Hotter (Bass-Baritone), Geraint Jones (Organ), Sidney Sutcliffe (Oboe), Philharmonia Orchestra, Anthony Bernard)

Nitin Sawney - Broken Skin

Elgar - Symphony No. 1 In A Flat Op. 55 3rd Mvt Adagio (Sir George Solti, London Philharmonic Orchestra)

Michael Nyman - Chasing Sheep Best Left To Shepherds (Michael Nyman Band)

Billy Joel - And So It Goes

Eric Whitacre - The Seal Lullaby (The Eric Whitacre Singers)

Jess Gillam and opera singer William Thomas share the music they love.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam's guest this week is the cellist Tony Rymer, a member of Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective and Chineke!

Originally hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, Tony Rymer has established himself as a high calibre chamber music player, as well as an accomplished soloist with some of the United States' top orchestras.

Tony and Jess talk about their lives as musicians, and share some of their favourite music, which includes a melody masterclass from Tchaikovsky, Björk in an unusual setting, and a moment of pure magic from Schubert.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and cellist Tony Rymer share their favourite music, including a melody masterclass from Tchaikovsky, Björk in an unusual setting, and a moment of magic from Schubert.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam's guest this week is the musician and record producer Will Gregory, known as one half of the electronic duo Goldfrapp, and more recently for his work with the Will Gregory Moog Ensemble.

Originally a saxophonist, Will played with the likes of Tears for Fears, Peter Gabriel and The Cure, before teaming up with Alison Goldfrapp in 1999 to form their acclaimed electronic duo. He has also composed for television, theatre and the opera stage.

Jess talks to Will about his life as a musician, and they share some of their favourite music, including the soundtrack work of Ennio Morricone, the orchestral pyrotechnics of Berlioz, a song by The Shangri-Las, and, naturally, saxophone, courtesy of Charlie Parker.

(repeat)

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam and composer / producer Will Gregory share their favourite music, including Berlioz, Ennio Morricone, The Shangri-Las and Charlie Parker.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam presents This Classical Life: Live from Snape Maltings. Jess is joined by cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, composer Nico Muhly, conductor Edwin Outwater and the BBC Concert Orchestra with a programme of typically eclectic music featuring Saint-Saens, Benjamin Britten, Andrea Tarrodi as well as Nico's own music and a new arrangement of a San Fermin song for Jess and Sheku.

Recorded at Snape Maltings on Friday 29th August.

Jess Gillam live from Snape Maltings.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam is joined by cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, composer Nico Muhly, conductor Edwin Outwater and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Snape Maltings.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam heads back home to the Lake District to host a Christmas house party. She's joined by folk singer Jon Boden, friends & family, and lots of Jess's mum's mince pies, to share their favourite Christmas music and to play a few impromptu festive tunes together.

Jon Boden is probably best known as the lead singer of the brilliant contemporary folk band Bellowhead, and alongside his duo with John Spiers and various solo projects he's one of the most recognisable and acclaimed names in today's UK folk scene.

Jon chats to Jess about his musical traditions at Christmas - from pub singalongs to arranging Mummers carols - and he and Jess swap some of their favourite tunes, from Dinah Shore to Steeleye Span via Darlene Love, Gustav Holst and Samuel Coleridge Taylor.

Jess Gillam with a special festive show at home in the Lake District, with guest Jon Boden

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts a Christmas party back home in the Lake District with singer Jon Boden and friends & family. With live music, festive tunes and lots of Jess's mum's mince pies.

[LISTEN NOW]

Vivaldi: Third movement from The Four Season: Summer

Sibelius: Finlandia

Lauri Porra: Flyover (excerpt) /Abeyance, from Flyover Symphony

Lauri Porra: Abeyance

Matteis: Alia Fantasia

Hannah Peel: Signals

Max Richter: On the Nature of Daylight

Bach arr Lauri Porra: Minuet in G

Anna Clyne: Masquerade

Lauri Porra: The Gift of Letting Go (world premiere)

John Harle: RANT

Lauri Porra: Music for a Rainy Day

Jess Gillam presents a live edition of This Classical Life with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Recorded in May with an audience at the Old Woollen, at Sunny Bank Mills in Leeds, Jess is joined by conductor Ellie Slorach, the strings of the BBC Philharmonic and three special guests - soprano Heloise Werner, composer Erland Cooper and pianist-composer Belle Chen - for a lively celebration of music from Bartok to Bjork.

Milhaud: Brazileira from Scaramouche

Isobel Waller-Bridge: Arise

Strozzi: Che si puo fare (arr. Richard Birchall)

Heloise Werner: Unspecified Intentions (arr. for string orchestra by Heloise Werner & Colin Alexander)

Elena Kats-Chernin: Zoom and Zip

Marcello: Oboe Concerto, 3rd Movement

Erland Cooper: Music For Growing Flowers

Erland Cooper: Rousay

Erland Cooper (after Peter Maxwell Davies): Haar Variation

Bjork: Venus as a Boy (arr. John Metcalf)

Bartok: Divertimento for Strings, 1st movement

Belle Chen: Moon-Spotting 4

Belle Chen: Papaya Tree Suite

Grieg: Rigaudon from Holberg Suite

Jess Gillam (presenter/saxophone)

Heloise Werner (soprano)

Erland Cooper (piano)

Belle Chen (piano/electronics)

Ellie Slorach (conductor)

~This Classical Life: Live returns on Sunday 10th July, with the BBC Concert Orchestra and special guests, recorded in June at Alexandra Palace.

Listen to over 100 episodes of This Classical Life on BBC Sounds.

Recorded at the Old Woollen in Leeds, with Jess Gillam and the BBC Philharmonic.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Recorded in June with an audience in the majestic old Victorian theatre space at Alexandra Palace, North London, Jess is joined by conductor Jonathan Bloxham, the BBC Concert Orchestra and four special guests - soprano Ella Taylor, composer Cassie Kinoshi, trumpeter Simon H怀fele and Alexis Taylor from synthpop band Hot Chip - for an evening of eclectic music that includes Mozart, Arvo P䀀rt, Miles Davis, Errollyn Wallen and John Williams.

Recorded Tuesday 21st June 2022, Alexandra Palace, London.

Milhaud ‘Brazileira' from Scaramouche

Shostakovich Festive Overture

Stravinsky ‘No Word from Tom' from The Rake's Progress

Mozart ‘Come scoglio' from Cos쀀 fan tutti

Arvo P䀀rt Swansong (UK premiere of 2021 version)

Errollyn Wallen Photography (1st mvt)

Cassie Kinoshi Solaristic Precepts

Alexis Taylor A Hit Song; Strange Strings (arr. Emma Smith & Richard Jones)

Hummel Rondo (3rd mvt) from Trumpet Concerto in E flat major

Rodrigo, arr. Miles Davis/Gil Evans Adagio (2nd mvt) from Concierto de Aranjuez (from the album Sketches of Spain)

John Williams - Closing In (from Escapades)

Jess Gillam (presenter/saxophone)

Ella Taylor (soprano)

Simon H怀fele (trumpet)

Alexis Taylor (singer)

Jonny Lam (pedal steel guitar)

Jonathan Bloxham (conductor)

Listen to over 100 episodes of This Classical Life on BBC Sounds.

Recorded at Alexandra Palace, with Jess Gillam and the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

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Jess Gillam swaps favourite music with conductor and broadcaster Ben Gernon.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

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Jess Gillam swaps listening recommendations with the saxophonist Emma Rawicz. Emma is a rising star in the jazz world and has released albums to critical acclaim. Emma and Jess share early experiences of learning the saxophone (and clarinet), what it's like to put out an album, tips for touring and general music taste.

There's music by Sibeilus, RAYE, Poulenc, and Baden Powell.

Jess Gillam swaps listening recommendations with saxophonist, Emma Rawicz.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam swaps listening recommendations with saxophonist Emma Rawicz in a playlist including Sibelius, RAYE, Poulenc and Baden Powell.

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Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jess Gillam swaps musical choices with the American violinist, Esther Yoo. Esther spends most of her time on the road as a concert soloist, or playing with her trio (the Z. E. N. Trio) made up of former BBC New Generation Artists. Jess and Esther swap notes on tips for touring, what to listen to when returning home and how to get back to basics when practising.

Esther's musical choices range from sparkling Bach performed on the piano, a courageous song from Wicked and a track from pianist-composer Joep Beving which, to Esther, resonated with her at a time of experiencing anxiety. There's also music from Poulenc, Bjarte Eike's Barokksolistene and Anna Meredith.

Jess Gillam swaps musical choices with the violinist, Esther Yoo.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Jess Gillam meets violinist Esther Yoo to listen to music spanning Bach live from Carnegie Hall, a haunting track by Joep Beving and Wicked the musical.

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Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

Gerald Finley is one of the world's leading operatic baritones, known for his powerful performances in dramatic opera, in recital and on the international stage including the BBC Proms. Gerry joins Jess to talk through monumental moments in his musical career including his time at King's College Cambridge and how he nearly joined the King's Singers, a love of jazz, what happens right before going on stage at the opera and how he craves silence when on the road. Jess also brings also music by the Danish String Quartet, Vivaldi, Stan Getz and Nadia Boulanger.

To listen on most smart speakers just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 ?

Jess Gillam shares favourite music with the baritone, Gerald Finley.

Jess Gillam sits down for a listening party with the Canadian baritone, Gerald Finley. They share music by Mozart, the King's Singers, Stan Getz, Vivaldi and Stacey Kent.

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Jess Gillam meets historical keyboardist Olga Pashchenko to share the music they love. Olga's choices reflect her deep love of the keyboard instruments from harpsichord, to fortepiano and jazz piano... but also reveal a passion for progressive rock and orchestral romantic music. There's also music by Caroline Shaw, Erland Cooper and Poulenc.

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

[LISTEN NOW]

Part of SatieDay, as Radio 3 marks 100 years since the death of the French composer, Jess Gillam is joined by French pianist and Satie specialist, Pascal Rogé to share some of the music they love.

Including keyboard music by JS Bach and Oscar Peterson and 3 unforgettable singers: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Edith Piaf and Minnie Riperton

Jess Gillam is joined by French pianist and Satie specialist, Pascal Roge

Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.

As Radio 3 marks 100 years since the death of the French composer Erik Satie, Jess Gillam is joined by French pianist and Satie specialist, Pascal Rogé

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